Rugby: BoP scrape a victory over Wanganui

Bay of Plenty got their NPC second-division rugby campaign off to a shaky start, despite taking the points in a 19-16 win at Wanganui.

The Bay led 14-9 at halftime and scraped home after Wanganui had a chance to grab the points at the death.

Bay of Plenty dominated most of the second spell but invariably ran into tight and determined Wanganui defence. Last year, the Bay cleaned Wanganui out 70-0, but it was a very different story on Saturday.

Both teams made plenty of mistakes, but first five-eighths Rodney Gibbs, national sevens representative Rico Gear and little winger Keith Pryor stood out for the Bay in the backs, while flanker Clayton McMillan, hooker Thompson Tapsell and lock Paul Tupai were the pick of the pack.

Last year's champions, Nelson Bays, scored two tries in the final 10 minutes to squeeze past King Country 27-17 at Nelson, after trailing 12-17 at the break.

Dion Matthews, twice, and substitute winger Baven Brown got the tries for King Country.

But the match turned 17 minutes into the second spell when Matthews crossed for what should have been his third try and a bonus point, but referee Steve Walsh sen spotted a King Country punch in the lead-up and ruled the try out.

Nelson Bays turned up the heat in the final quarter, fullback Mark Milne and centre Joe Faaiu scoring tries, with Milne kicking 17 points.

In Ashburton, Manawatu were too good for Mid-Canterbury, winning 38-18, scoring five tries to two, and in Napier, Hawkes Bay swamped Marlborough 54-20.

- NZPA