Rugby: Waikato thankful just to hang on and win

INVERCARGILL - Waikato coach Kiwi Searancke and his team were relieved to earn four points with a scratchy 20-13 win over Southland in their NPC first division rugby match at Homestead Stadium yesterday.

Searancke said his team did not play well and were happy in the final analysis just to win.

Southland at least deserved their bonus point for a gutsy effort, which lacked only finish in the backs.

Searancke said Southland were fired up and played to their gameplan with a "magnificent" performance.

Waikato lacked firepower and pattern in the first spell and trailed 7-13 at halftime.

But they turned the tables in 12 minutes after the break when they scored 10 points to lead 17-13.

A Glen Jackson penalty pushed the visitors out to 20-13 and the win was sealed.

Southland tried hard to gain a converted try and share the honours, but Waikato stood firm with no-nonsense percentage rugby and capitalised on the many turnovers and basic errors committed by Southland.

Southland's forwards were outstanding, at least gaining parity with their vaunted counterparts.

One magnificent Southland scrum 10 minutes after halftime saw Waikato pushed off their feed and lose the ball. Hard on defence, the Southlanders steamrollered over the Waikato pack, injuring their captain and No 8 Deon Muir, who had to be replaced.

However, Waikato had too much pace out wide, particularly on the left flank where Scott McLeod, Bruce Reihana and Roger Randle had room to operate in and repeatedly create overlaps.

Big No 8 Paul Miller was again Southland's man of the match with an inspirational display.

Miller, who comprehensively outplayed Muir, demonstrated his immense strength in the first half when he barged over for a try with three Waikato defenders hanging off him and unable to bring him down.

Reihana was a star of the Waikato backline, his explosive pace often embarrassing the Southland three-quarters.

Reihana often stretched the defence to the limit, and fully deserved his two tries. - NZPA