Rugby: Northland pull out all stops

WHANGAREI - Northland upended Ranfurly Shield holders Waikato 44-37 in a thrill-a-minute NPC first division rugby match in Whangarei on Saturday night.

In doing so they recorded their fourth consecutive victory under the Northland Rugby Stadium floodlights - the previous three being at the expense of Wellington, Canterbury and Southland.

The Northlanders, magnificently led by their lock forward and captain Glenn Taylor, produced their best performance of the season and in doing so almost denied Waikato a home semifinal next weekend.

Last year's beaten finalists needed two late tries to secure bonus points for scoring four tries and losing by sevenor fewer.

Northland led 20-16 at halftime, having scored three tries to one, Waikato being kept in the game only by goalkicker Matthew Cooper who landed three penalty goals.

The Northland pack, especially loose forwards Matthew Webber and Justin Collins, put the heat on from the outset.

Both wingers, lightning-fast Daniel Parkinson and the back-to-form Norm Berryman, were dynamic from broken play.

Waikato fought back after the break and went ahead 23-20 early in the second spell when wing Keith Lowen scored a crucial try and Cooper added the extras.

Thoughts that score would spark a Waikato surge were soon dispelled as Northland stormed back, the forwards rumbling over from a lineout drive leaving Taylor to claim the try.

The home team pack then shunted the Waikato scrum under their own posts for No 8 Tim Henwood to score, then hooker Jason Hammond cashed in on a Waikato blunder to crash over.

Northland jumped out to 44-23 and Waikato's home semifinal chances were rapidly evaporating.

However, Waikato clawed their way back and finished the stronger, taking command of lineouts, and hammering away relentlessly at Northland.

They picked up two tries through halfback Ben Willis and Lowen. - NZPA