Waikato bounce back with a blinder

By CHRIS RATTUE

Waikato 25 North Harbour 20

Liam Messam took the gamble of his young career in Hamilton today and helped his team to a bonus point jackpot that has kept their NPC hopes alive.

Waikato turned around a 3-17 deficit, and a dreadful first half performance, to pip North Harbour at Waikato Stadium with a storming second half display into the wind.

With the scores level at 20-all, a result which would have put Waikato out of the semifinal hunt, Messam opted for a quick tap kick instead of giving David Hill a penalty shot for glory in the 78th minute.

Given Hill's wobbly goal-kicking display, it was probably not a bad decision.

And it paid off, with the ball being whizzed out to wing Sitiveni Sivivatu, who charged between defenders for the winner.

It was Sivivatu's first touchdown since his five-try haul against Auckland five weeks ago, and it clinched not only victory but the four-try bonus point.

Waikato coach John Mitchell coolly admitted a win was all he was after, meaning he would have happily seen Hill shoot for goal.

Messam said: "I took the opportunity with Siti out wide, and some of their players facing the posts thinking we would take the three points.

"My heart was beating pretty fast when I tapped it ... we had to get that bonus point today.

"I had a bit of time to think about it and I thought stuff it and go for it."

When asked about his thoughts when Messam took the tap, Mitchell said: "I was pretty shitty for most of the match anyway."

Mitchell added: "I guess it just shows the vision he has for the game. Some players don't have that and some of the best players in the world do. He has wonderful awareness."

Messam and two-try hero Sosene Anesi got scant reward for their starring roles.

Captain Jono Gibbes sacked them as the music committee in the dressing room, throwing out their hip-hop and putting on country and western as the background to Waikato's celebrations.

They could, however, so easily have been singing the blues in the Hamilton sunshine. This was a game North Harbour had for the taking at halftime.

Waikato were often just hanging on in the first spell, when Craig Newby got Harbour rolling with a try from a quick tap in the eighth minute.

And when Hill made a hash of a penalty attempt on halftime, it seemed this was not going to be Waikato's day.

But they roared into life in the second spell, with reports that they had been read the riot act by Mitchell at halftime.

"We were horrible in the first half. It looked like we were afraid to play," Mitchell said.

"The guys showed outstanding fortitude ... the second 40 was quite outstanding."

Keith Lowen and Messam were involved in Anesi's 44th-minute try which gave the home side hope.

Anesi scored eight minutes later from a long build-up, and Derek Maisey's passing ability helped to set up Isaac Boss for their third.

Both Lowen and Harbour fullback Nick Evans blew second half try-scoring chances. Lowen had the ball knocked out of his arms by Luke McAlister over the goal line.

Harbour coach Allan Pollock said: "There was only one team in that second 40. It was very frustrating. We let ourselves down - it's like a funeral in the dressing room."

And captain Joe Ward added: "At 17-3, those are the type of things you've got to put away, especially playing with the wind in the second half."


Waikato 25 (Sosene Anesi 2, Isaac Boss, Sitiveni Sivivatu tries; David Hill pen, con)

North Harbour 20 (Craig Newby, Nick Williams tries; Luke McAlister 2 pen, 2 con). Halftime: 3-17.


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