Waikato wears down B.O.P.

Press, 7 September 1989, Page 40

Waikato wears down B.O.P.

PA Hamilton Waikato’s strong forward pack wore down Bay of Plenty in the second half at Rugby Park yesterday to score three pushover tries and clinch a 23-9 national championship win. A strong wind, lack of positive back play and many mistakes contributed to a disappointing spectacle in which Waikato scored four tries to one. Bay of Plenty took first use of the wind and a poor first-half display by both sides ended with Waikato taking a 4-3 lead to half-time. The only highlight of the first spell was a thirteenth minute try to the home team’s right wing, Warren Jennings. The fullback, Max Simpkins, missed three kicks at goal for the visitors, before the second five-eighth, Steve Miln, was given the job and put Bay of Plenty’s first points on the board. The experienced lock, Gary Braid, and the big No. 8 Darren Martin, had strong games for the Bay. Scorers: Waikato 23 (J. Mitchell 3, W. Jennings, tries; D. Halligan, 2 conversions, penalty goal) beat Bay of Plenty 9 (G. Braid . try; S. Miln, conversion, penalty goal). Half-time: 4-1 There was a hint of promise at Athletic Park yesterday, greatly outweighed by mystery and frustration, as the Wellington representative rugby team was beaten, 26-9, by North Harbour. The promise came from a forward pack which showed that some spirit survives in this Wellington team near the end of a trying season and that the foundation may exist for recovery and rebuilding. The mystery, and the cause of frustration, was that Wellington could do nothing with a majority share of possession, that it could neither retain ball in the second phase, nor distribute it effectively, nor use it to definite advantage.

North Harbour furnished Wellington with eight shots at goal from penalties but only one was converted. Scorers: North Harbour 26 (S. Pierce, R. Kapa, W. Shelford, A. Pollock tries; W. Little 2 conversions, 2 penalty goals) beat Wellington 9 (C. Tregaskis try; S. Pokere conversion, penalty goal).