Timmins leads Southland troops from front

Southland 36 BoP 20

Southland coach Leicester Rutledge asked for something special from his captain, Brendon Timmins, yesterday.

And Timmins responded in the best possible manner. He was outstanding in Southland's victory over Bay of Plenty in Invercargill.

He dominated lineouts, scored an important try and made regular hit-ups and drives to help to take the Bay apart in what could be a season-saving result for Southland.

They, like Bay of Plenty and Counties Manukau, are all battling to avoid the one automatic relegation spot.

Southland's win was their second of the season and the maximum five points earned momentarily eased their relegation concerns with three rounds remaining.

They are in ninth place, four points ahead of Counties Manukau and six in front of last-placed Bay of Plenty.

No one was more delighted at that than Timmins.

"Leicester put the word on me to lead from the front," Timmins said.

"I probably haven't done that so well previously. I've had flashes but I was happy with my game today. I'm pretty exhausted now, so that's always a good indication."

Southland outplayed Bay of Plenty in the set-pieces, particularly in the scrums, where Clarke Dermody and then Keith Cameron at loosehead prop made a meal of their opposites. The home side also won the lineouts, stealing seven Bay of Plenty throws, and when they got their driving going they had the visitors in all sorts of trouble.

The Southland backs made important contributions also, with winger Kuka Asolupe scoring the first try after being put into space 35m out by a Joel Wilson cutout pass.

Wilson scored the second try after first five-eighths Ashley Barron slipped a short pass, and fullback Pailate Fili beat two tackles on a 15m angled run to score the third just before halftime.

Having had first use of a strong wind, Southland went to the break 24-3 up, but probably the key moment came in the 50th minute when Timmins was driven over the tryline from a lineout to stretch Southland's lead to 29-6, a try which seemed to demoralise the Bay.

- NZPA