Waikato have ensured their stay in the Championship was as short as possible with a thumping 36-13 win over Otago in the Championship final to move back to the top tier in 2019.
After dropping their first three games of the season, Waikato embarked on a remarkable turnaround to win eight of their next nine matches on their way to the Championship title.
While superbly led by classy pivot Fletcher Smith who finished with a competition leading 130 points, it was in the tight five where Waikato really dominated throughout the season.
Whether at scrum time, with ball in hand or from the line out drive, Waikato were simply ruthless in the engine room. Their powerful pack laid the platform for a set of exciting young backs to catch the eye and terrorise opposition defenders.
With that in mind, Waikato could have easily got the wobbles when workhorse lock James Tucker was injured out of the match after just three minutes. But this Waikato team is made of sterner stuff. Young midfielder Quinn Tupaea stepped up to play a hand in three first half tries to give Waikato a 19-6 lead at the break.
The first came when Tupaea scythed through the Otago midfield and found Sevu Reece out wide for the opening try in the sixth minute. Tupaea scored himself in the 19th minute when a brilliant long ball from Fletcher Smith put him in space before providing a try-assist for fullback Mat Landsdowne in the 31st minute.
It was quite a first half from Waikato, but when Otago went over early in the second half the gap was slashed to 19-13 despite the home side enjoying a significant territorial and possession advantage.
Any nerves in amongst the home crowd were extinguished just seconds later when wing Tyler Campbell leapt high from to claim the kick off and scoot away for a try to reinstate the 13 point lead for Waikato.
There was no looking back from the Mooloos from there as Sevu Reece bagged his 14th try of the season and Fletcher Smith added a penalty to confirm the 36-13 win.
It was Waikato’s first title win since lifting the title in 2006, with Dwayne Sweeney the only survivor from that team.
While Otago will be disappointed to miss out on promotion to the Premiership, they can be proud of their efforts in 2018 and have the Ranfurly Shield to look after for the summer.
Scorers:
Waikato 36 (Sevu Reece 2, Quinn Tupaea, Matt Landsdown, Tyler Campbell tries, Fletcher Smith 4 con, pen) Otago 13 (James Lentjes try, Josh Ioane 2 pen, con)
HT: 19-6
And finally here is the review of the Mitre 10 Cup Premiership final between Auckland (Who are hungry for a win in order to end an 11 year drought hoping to bring back some glory days) & Canterbury (Who are hoping to retain their title for their 4th year running) at Eden Park in Auckland:
Auckland is, for the first time since 2007 and the 17th time in all, back atop New Zealand’s provincial rugby totem pole following a dramatic 40-33 extra time victory over Canterbury at Eden Park.
After defeats to Canterbury in the 2012 and 2015 deciders, Auckland deserved the spoils, scoring six tries to three in a seesaw battle which hinged on the tremendous impact of its bench players such as hooker Mike Sosene, loose forward Taleni Seu, and wing Caleb Clarke. Had the scores been still tied after extra time, Auckland would still have won by virtue of scoring more tries than its opponent.
The 1st spell saw a lot of nip and tuck, but Canterbury monopolised the ball and field position. The points did not, however, come freely. Brett Cameron and Mitchell Drummond did kick a lot, mostly accurately. The visitors also challenged Auckland on its lineout ball, mauled freely and tackled with its trademark efficiency.
The first try was, in fact, a penalty try, referee Glen Jackson heading between the uprights after deeming Auckland had collapsed a driving maul off a line out. He sent No 8 Akira Ioane to the sin bin, which proved costly to the home side.
As the rain started to fall, fullback George Bridge ran a sweet angle off a Braydon Ennor short ball to cross for his 5th try of the season.
Auckland’s response was almost immediate and centred on a heads-up play by the skipper TJ Faiane. He tapped a penalty and was off, stepping and surging before offloading to a direct running Tumua Manu for the centre’s 7th try of the season.
The 2nd half saw Eden Park shrouded in near darkness. It was raining and the lights took time to engage. It might have been a metaphor for Auckland’s performance, 7-20 in debit.
But out of the shadows, Canterbury flanker Billy Harmon was yellow carded for a tip tackle on Jordan Trainor. Auckland swung onto attack, Evan Olmstead being held up over the line.
Then the home side was awarded a scrum penalty after a big shunt on that set-piece. An ever-alert Ioane took the quick tap, and powered over for the score. Game on.
Patient Auckland pressure yielded a try to fullback Jordan Trainor after several pick and goes. Ball freed, 3 passes, try.
Then replacement wing Caleb Clarke swept over off an efficient lefto scrum move. Harry Plummer’s wide-angled conversion drew it level at 26-all. We were heading for a rare grand final extra time period of 10 minutes each way.
Canterbury replacement Tom Sanders scored first for Canterbury in the first period of extra time, spinning over, before Sosene-Feagai replied to make it 33-all.
The final was sealed when Auckland replacement halfback Leon Fukofuka latched onto a Melani Nanai break. The Rugby Cup was within Auckland’s grasp as Canterbury was going to need to score twice to clinch the victory.
It was not to be. Cue joyous celebrations.
The 20,133 spectators who enjoyed free entry certainly got their added value entertainment, 100 minutes of dramatic finals rugby with the full spectrum of Auckland weather.
New Zealand Rugby President Maurice Trapp would have afforded himself a quiet smile, having coached Auckland to four straight NPCs from 1987-90s, a time when this union could rightly call itself one of the finest provincial juggernauts of all time. The class of 2018 has some way to go, but this is a fair start.
5 of the Canterbury side will not have long to drown their sorrows, as they fly to Tokyo tomorrow to link up with the All Blacks for next weekend’s Japan Test.
Auckland 40 (Tumua Manu, Akira Ioane, Jordan Trainor, Caleb Clarke, Mike Sosene, Leon Fukofuka tries; Harry Plummer 5 con) Canterbury 33 (George Bridge, Tom Sanders tries; penalty try; Brett Cameron 2 con, 4 pen) HT: 20-7 Canterbury
So that is my 243rd blog of the year 2018 (MMXVIII) & my 63rd of this year.
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