Waikato 38
Manawatu 38
KEY POINTS:
Waikato avoided their third straight loss in the provincial competition last night when they drew with Manawatu in Palmerston North.
Waikato, who lost their first two matches of the season to Northland and then Tasman, seemed to have the match sewn up after scoring four tries in the space of 13 minutes.
They scored one just before halftime which put them back into the lead at 17-16 and then three in the first 12 minutes of the second half to put the score to 38-16 in their favour.
Manawatu, seeking their first win over Waikato since a 27-13 win in the then NPC in 1987, then took over.
Young first five-eighths Aaron Cruden, who replaced Matty James who injured himself after crashing into a post, played a starring role in the fightback along with fullback Francisco Bosch and wings Lote Raikabula and Andre Taylor.
Waikato surged into an early lead with a try to hooker Oli Avei in the third minute after a series of rucks close to the line.
With Manawatu struggling to gain possession, Waikato stretched their lead out to 12 when skipper Liam Messam scored an opportunistic try 10 minutes later, popping over the top of Manawatu ruck on the line to palm the ball down.
Manawatu stayed in touch through two penalties and a fine drop goal by James.
They then took the lead through hooker Rob Foreman whose try finished off a move started by Bosch and carried on by Raikabula.
James' conversion gave Manawatu the lead but Waikato got their noses in front from the kickoff when Oli Avei dotted down after a charge down by lock Toby Lynn.
Two quick tries to second five-eighths Jackson Willison and another by wing Tim Mikkelson, two of them converted by Callum Bruce put Waikato 38-16 in front.
But Manawatu, who upended Canterbury in the first round, were undaunted.
Cruden converted a try by substitute prop David Te Moana and added a penalty before finding constructing Raikabula's try with an inside break.
Another Cruden break was finished off by Taylor who scored twice in the win over Canterbury.
* Meanwhile, Northland's political leaders will fight plans to demote their rugby team to a second tier competition.
Whangarei Mayor Stan Semenoff, Far North MP John Carter and Labour list MP Shane Jones met the heads of the Northland Rugby Union in Whangarei yesterday to give their support in tackling the problem.
The New Zealand Rugby Union announced on Monday in a draft decision its intention to drop the Northland team from the professional Air NZ Cup.
Northland would instead have to compete in the amateur Heartland Cup.
Carter said the political leaders had banded together to present a unified voice to back their local union in its fight against the proposed demotion.
"We are determined not to allow this region to become passed over ... this is a premium provincial rugby area."
Carter said Northland was proud of its rugby team and had outstanding players but its talent would be creamed off to other unions.
"We are going to fight this every inch of the way."
Jones said Northland had over 50 local rugby clubs and a huge percentage of Maori youth played the game.
"We have a very proud tradition ... rugby is of major importance to Maori communities."
He wanted to see Maori leaders stand up and contribute moral and financial support to the game.
NRU chairman Wayne Peters said the union was being judged before it had even ended its three year competition which did not accurately reflect its potential.
Northland had geographical challenges and an economic catchment which affected costs.
Deputy chairman Andrew Golightly said the union would now collect all the relevant information to make fair comparisons with other unions, before any decision was taken about potential legal action.
NZRU chief executive Steve Tew said a final decision would be made next month which provided opportunity for feedback.
If Northland was demoted it would have the chance to fight its way back.
"We know how sensitive and important this is for local communities ... we are aware any such decisions have ramifications right through the game."
- NZ HERALD STAFF, NZPA
