Waikato 22 Southland 11
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Waikato defied both Southland and the elements to grind out a 22-11 Air NZ Cup rugby win in Hamilton tonight.
Torrential rain before the match left surface water over portions of Waikato Stadium, making footing precarious for the players and increasing the necessity for conservative accuracy.
Conditions dictated that much of the play centred on the two willing forward packs, where Waikato increasingly got the better of the exchanges as the match wore on.
While Southland were overly reliant on a kicking game, the home side found better service from their backs' ability to move the ball to at least threaten the line.
Of crucial value to the winners was the goalkicking of first five-eighth Stephen Donald, who ended with 17 points, including five penalties.
The first half ended at 6-6 with Donald and his Southland rival James Wilson trading two penalties apiece.
Line breaks were few and far between and the one occasion that Waikato pierced Southland's defences came to nought when referee Steve Walsh ruled a pass from Donald had drifted forward shortly before flanker Steven Bates crossed the tryline near the left-hand touch.
Waikato began to exert some control after the interval and quickly earned more penalties which Donald turned into points for the hosts to lead 12-6 by the 49th minute.
The small but hardy crowd had to wait until the 62nd minute for a try but when it came it was above the ordinary as Waikato replacement loose forward Sione Lauaki found a big hole in midfield.
Lauaki, named in the All Blacks squad for the World Cup, linked with centre Dwayne Sweeney, who ran good lines in scampering 40m for the try.
Donald converted to make the game safe for his side before adding his fifth penalty to inflate the cushion further.
Southland never chanced their arm until the dying stages, and a huge cutout pass in the 76th minute from substitute Blair Stewart found Wilson, who showed determination to hold off a couple of would-be tacklers and wriggle his way to the tryline.
Waikato 22 (Dwayne Sweeney try; Stephen Donald 5 pen, con) Southland 11 (James Wilson try; 2 pen). Halftime: 6-6.
- NZPA
