1995 NPC Results: week 5
NZ NPC
RUGBY IN 1995 _________________________________________
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THE NEW ZEALAND NATIONAL PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIP
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This article features short reports, news,
and results from NPC matches played in New Zealand
for the weekend of 2-3rd September, 1995
HEADLINES
~~~~~~~~~
Auckland looked ominous as they contained an Otago side which
couldn't hit top form, and beat them 25-21 at Carisbrook.
Canterbury got a rude shock away at King Country who beat them
48-28 and proved that they are still in with a chance of retaining
their first division spot.
Southland went down 25-21 at home to a classy Counties side which
has not yet lost a match.
North Harbour came unstuck against a determined and committed
Waikato side which shut down their much-vaunted All Black backline,
and deservedly came out on top 29-28 in a thriller.
MATCH REPORTS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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### DIVISION 1 ####################################################
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OTAGO 21 AUCKLAND 25 Half-time: 8-13
at Dunedin
Otago tries: T Brown, S Bachop, J Wright
kicks: T Brown(2 pen)
Auckland tries: O Brown, M Jones, D Mika
kicks: A Cashmore(2 conv, 2 pen)
A last minute penalty earned Otago a bonus point which might well
prove to be a crucial one by the end of the round-robin stage of
the NPC this year.
Auckland deserved its victory at the House of Pain, playing rugby
based around it's formidable forward pack, and using its backline
to good advantage when appropriate. Otago, on the other hand, should
count themselve fortunate to salvage a bonus point, since they were
outplayed for a great deal of the game.
It says a lot that Auckland, although plagued by injuries and lack
of top form still manage to produce victories, however drab and
seemingly ill-deserved earlier in the season, and they will only
improve as the NPC goes on.
Auckland led 13-8 at the halfway stage with a try to each side; Steven
Bachop going over to open Otago's scoring in the 12th minute and
new boy No.6 Dylan Mika getting the reply for Auckland after the
26th from a lineout mistake on the Otago throw only 5m out.
Stretching its lead to 18-8 just after the restart, and with wind
advantage it looked as if Auckland might run away with it. Olo
Brown was driven over for a touchdown after a good break in the
backs, Carlos Spencer showing some of his superb running skills.
At the 56 minute mark Michael Jones added a try to what was a
superb all-round performance by him, diving over in the left hand corner
winger-style.
Otago came back to make it 13-25 a few minutes later with Tony Brown
stretching out in the tackle over on the left hand side after Otago
looked to have blown the chance by cutting back inside instead of
flinging the ball wide quickly when they had an overlap.
Then Otago scored a superb counter-attack try with Taine Randell taking
the ball away down the right touch. Replacement winger Jason Wright,
on for Jeff Wilson who sustained mild concussion in a tackle, went
over to score making it 18-25.
In the last few minutes of the match Otago attacked desperately, but
failed to penetrate. A last second penalty had the crowd urging the
quick tap, but Otago opted to go for the 3 points which would ensure
them a bonus NPC point for being within the 7-point margin.
_____________________________________________________________________
KING COUNTRY 48 CANTERBURY 28 Half-time: 31-6
at Te Kuiti
King Country tries: D Wilson(2), P Rayasi(2), J Rika, H Morgan,
P Mitchell
kicks: M Blank(5 conv, 1 pen)
Canterbury tries: T Matson, S Philpott, D Gibson
kicks: A Mehrtens(1 conv, 2 pen)
Resting several key players for the Ranfurly Shield defence next week
against Wellington, Canterbury paid the price for underestimating a
King Country side which had a lot to prove.
KC played with a strong wind in the first half, scoring 4 converted
tries with first five-eighths Michael Blank adding a penalty to give
them a 31-6 halftime advantage. Canterbury could only boast 2 Andrew
Mehrtens penalties in reply.
Canterbury scored first in the second half through Tabai Matson, with
Mehrtens converting. But King Country hit back by scoring 2 tries
in only 5 minutes to give it a 30-point advantage. The Red and Blacks
added a further 3 tries but KC were too far in front to be worried,
and a late try by Rayasi added to Canterbury's misery.
Mehrtens had an awful day in all, kicking only 3 from 8, and being
put under severe pressure from KC loose forwards all afternoon. The
Canterbury midfield backs were also off-form, with Matson and
Mayerhofler both taking the wrong options when tries looked to be
on.
This King Country performance puts the heat on Southland who have
4 NPC points as well, but from bonus points as opposed to a morale
boosting victory such as this.
_____________________________________________________________________
SOUTHLAND 21 COUNTIES 25 Half-time: 10-20
at Invercargill
Southland tries: P Dynes, G Beardsley, R Stodart
kicks: S Culhane(2 pen)
Counties tries: J Paramore, D Love, J Vidiri
kicks: D Love(2 conv, 2 pen)
Extending its unbeaten run to 4 games, Counties is now rightly eying
a place in the NPC semi-finals, and currently heads the table.
Star player Jonah Lomu had a quiet game, mainly due to the effectiveness
of his marker Richard Stodart, who shadowed the giant everywhere, and
also scored a try himself.
Starting with the wind Counties applied the early pressure and opened
their account through a Danny Love penalty after 3 minutes. Five minutes
later Paramore scored a great try following 3 successive rucks.
Southland showed they weren't there just to spectate when they replied
through winger Peter Dynes who finished off a move started by fullback
Grant Beardsley.
However Southland pressure went wrong after a turnover gave Love a
chance to show his speed in a 30m sprint in under the posts, and then
convert his own try to make it 17-5 to the visitors.
Southland got it back to within 7 points in the 35th minute when Harvey
and Stodart worked together to outfox Lomu on the right, and Beardsley
went over for the try. Danny Love replied with a penalty just on
halftime.
Two early penalties got Southland back in with a chance through Simon
Culhane, at 20-16, but midway through the half winger Joeli Vidiri
scored. Southland once again showed resilience by scoring themselves
through a 25m sprint to the line by Stodart, gaining them an important
bonus point for the fourth time in a row.
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NORTH HARBOUR 28 WAIKATO 29 Half-time: 10-15
at Takapuna
North Harbour tries: L Barry, R Todd, E Rush
kicks: W Burton(2 conv, 3 pen)
Waikato tries: W Warlow, D Monkley, W Jennings
kicks: M Foster(1 pen), E Martin(1 conv, 3 pen)
Waikato deservedly won a thrilling match away at North Harbour's
ground in Takapuna by taking the chances offered to them whilst
disrupting the classy North Harbour backline with solid defence.
North harbour started well, with loose forward Liam Barry capitalising
on a lineout mistake 5m out from the Waikato line to dive over. Burton
converted.
Waikato settled down to a pattern which was to remain for the rest
of the match, whereby they shut down the North Harbour backline by
standing up flat and tackling very strongly in midfield and around the
fringes of the ruck. At times they played the offside rules to the
limit, and were allowed a great latitude in this by the referee.
Waikato replied to the North harbour opening with a Foster penalty,
and then Wayne Warlow scored an intercept try, running 60m to
dot down. Eugene Martin missed the conversion.
Harbour couldn't get going, and although this was largely due to
huge and comitted defence by the Mooloos, it has to be said that
their support play and ball retension was poor.
Harbour also seemed to think they should try to run the ball from
anywhere, even when there was no support available, and Eric Rush
contributed to a Waikato try by attempting to run from his 22m and
then grubber kicking. The turnover resulted in a strong Waikato
attack from which Dwayne Monkley scored under the posts.
A penalty to Harbour saw the score at 15-10 to Waikato at half-time.
Harbour started the second half like the first by scoring a try,
this time from impressive Robert Todd, a newcomer to the right wing.
In a rare passage of play where Harbour achieved some continuity,
they mauled strongly down the right, then the ball was taken up well
by Haydon Ferris. A couple of quick rucks ensued before Todd went
in by the right-hand upright. Burton converted.
Then it was all Waikato, as they were awarded three penalties, then
scored a fine try to Warren Jennings who ran 30-40m diagonally
across the field to dot down in the right corner with 19 minutes
left on the clock to make it 29-17 to the visitors.
North Harbour pulled it back to 23-29 with a couple of penalties,
but it all looked too late until Bunce found Robert Todd who in
turn fed Rush on an overlap to score.
With time up on the clock, it was all up to Warren Burton to win
the match for Harbour, however the kick went wide, and Waikato
were deserved winners.
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### DIVISION 2 ####################################################
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BAY OF PLENTY 41 MANAWATU 11 Half-time: 12-6
at Rotorua
Bay of Plenty tries: R McDonald, M Camp, A Miller, D Kaui,
J Edwards, S Simpkins, C Bidois
kicks: A Miller(3 conv)
Manawatu tries: H Anisi
kicks: J Holland(2 pen)
Manawatu got taught a bit of a rugby lesson at Rotorua International
Stadium by a Bay of Plenty side which ran in no less than 7 tries
against them. In fact the margin should have been much more, but
BOP first five eighth Andy Miller only managed a tally of 3 from 11
attempts at goal. Miller was however one of the standout players, showing
superb defensive and attacking skills, and setting up several BOP tries.
The BOP pack dominated their opponents for most of the match, and the
backline chimed in with an excellent 80 minute performance, second
five-eighth Willie Clarke breaking the Manawatu line seemingly at will,
and linking well with his outsides.
Others to stand out were halfback Milton Haig, winger Robbie McDonald,
hooker Joe Edwards, and No.8 Clayton McMillan.
For Manawatu fullback Christian Cullen made some try-saving tackles,
and locks Andrew Pavitt and Alistair Mitchell gained some good lineout
ball.
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WAIRARAPA BUSH 34 HAWKES BAY 16 Half-time: 24-0
at Masterton
Wairarapa Bush tries: R Rutene, C Pepperell(2), M Berry
kicks: M Berry(1 conv, 4 pen)
Hawkes Bay tries: Penalty try
kicks: J Cunningham(1 conv, 3 pen)
Wairarapa-Bush outplayed Hawkes Bay at wet-weather rugby, and were
inspired by evergreen midfielder and captain Marty Berry to overcome
their opponents by doing the basics of the game well.
Berry netted 19 points as Bush played simple rugby, the forwards
winning enough ball in the opening spell with the wind at their backs,
to allow the kicking game to keep their opponents pinned in their
own territory. When try-scoring opportunities came fullback Robert
Rutene and halfback Craig Pepperell were on hand to grab them, and
Marty Berry added four penalties and a conversion.
Hawkes Bay managed to get onto the score-sheet only 4 minutes into
the second half with a Jarrod Cunningham penalty, but Bush responded
with a second try to Pepperell.
Cunningham kicked two more penalties, and his side were also awarded
a penalty try. Marty Berry had the last say in the match with a
fine solo effort when he scooped up a loose ball and evaded several
defenders before going over for the try.
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NELSON BAYS 23 MID CANTERBURY 15 Half-time: 8-5
at Nelson
Nelson Bays tries: G Briggs, S Pijfers, S Maxwell
kicks: C Lott(1 conv, 2 pen)
Mid Canterbury tries: S Middleton, T O'Sullivan, R Leadley
kicks:
Nelson Bays gained its first win of the season in awhat was a crucial
match for both bottom-of-the-table sides.
Bays was strengthened by the return of several key players from injury,
and all made a significant contribution to the win. They began strongly
applying all of the early pressure, but wasted numerous scoring
opportunities.
With nothing in it at half time, the second half saw Bays gain an
important advantage when lock Seph Pijfers stormed across after
five minutes played. Only four minutes later flanker Steve Maxwell
scored a superb try, ending an 80m move which involved 6 players.
Lott kicked a penalty to extend the score to 23-5, and it was seemingly
all over. However Mid-Canterbury rallied and crossed twice late in
the match care of wingers Tom O'Sullivan and Ross Leadley, a second
half replacement for Karl Thompson.
_____________________________________________________________________
NORTHLAND 26 TARANAKI 17 Half-time: 3-17
at Whangarei
Northland tries: S Moore, W Johnston, T Monaghan
kicks: W Johnston(1 conv, 3 pen)
Taranaki tries: E Manu, M Carr
kicks: J Cameron(2 conv, 1 drop)
A key man in Northland's victory over Taranaki was veteran fullback
Warren Johnston, who turned his side around from being 14 points
down at halftime to come back and win the match.
Down 3-17 at the halfway stage, Northland ran in 3 tries in the
second half, 2 of them within five minutes.
Taranaki was completely dominant in the first half with captain
Mark Allen and No.8 Andrew Slater featuring strongly up front. With
Taranaki first five-eighth Jamie Cameron using the wind advantage
well, Northland was pinned back inside its own half for most of
the first 40 minutes.
Taranaki scored a try through Michael Carr, and winger Etu Manu, with
Cameron converting both, and adding a drop-goal. Johnston gave his
side its 3 points through a penalty just before the turn-around.
Northland took some time to get going in the second 40, but finally
halfback Steven Moore forced his way over the line in a blind-side
move. Attacking straight from the restart Johnston went down the
blind and exchanged passes with Moore to go in for the try. Two
further penalties saw the score at 19-17 to Northland.
With only 5 minutes to go Tarankai gambled everything but paid
the price when the ball was lost and Tony Monaghan scored on
the counter attack. The try was converted by Johnston.
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### DIVISION 3 ####################################################
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EAST COAST 17 POVERTY BAY 37 Half-time:
at Ruatoria
East Coast tries: W Haewera, E Manuel
kicks: E Manuel(2 conv), B Poi(1 drop)
Poverty Bay tries: J Wells(2), D Andrews, T Crosby,
G Dixon, T Mauheni
kicks: A Rangihuna(2 conv, 1 pen)
Poverty Bay beat plucky East Coast by a flattering scoreline to
maintain it's unbeaten record in Division 3 of the NPC.
East Coast had Bay camped inside it's own 22m territory for 20
minutes in the second half, a feature of the match not reflected
in the score. Coast drove over 7 times in total, each time being
held up by the Bay defence. Eventually Eli Manuel managed to score
an converted as well giving Coast a chance at 27-17.
The effort of maintaining this pressure took its toll, and Bay
grabbed two soft tries to clinch the win.
Superb defence and the ability to take its chances separated Poverty
Bay from East Coast in the end. Standout players for Bay were No.8
Mutu Ngarimu, halfback Trevor Crosby and centre Carl Baistow.
_____________________________________________________________________
WANGANUI 34 HOROWHENUA 6 Half-time: 19-3
at Wanganui
Wanganui tries: D Kereti(2), A Nagiou(2)
kicks: G Lennox(1 conv, 4 pen)
Horowhenua tries:
kicks: K Williams(2 pen)
After recent losses Wanganui bounced back to beat Horowhenua
decisively in a match they dominated and never looked like
losing.
Wanganui controlled the game through its forwards, and its backline
took advantage of the platform to move the ball.
Horowhenua was out-scrummed and had no answer to the mobility of the
Wanganui forwards. Wanganui wingers Asalusi Nagiou and David Kereti
bagged two tries apiece, thriving on a steady supply of ball, and
captain Guy Lennox added the rest of the points with a conversion and
four penaties.
Horowhenua's only points came from a penalty in each half to Kyle
Williams.
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THAMES VALLEY 45 MARLBOROUGH 33 Half-time: 33-7
at Thames
Thames Valley tries: G McLiver(4), G Ellis(2), W Hodges
kicks: D McCallum(4 conv), W Hodges(1 conv)
Marlborough tries: L MacDonald, D Sandrey, M Kerr, R Burrows,
Penalty try
kicks: C Forsyth(3 conv), W Cairns(1 conv)
Thames Valley managed a crucial victory by hanging on in the second
half when being pressured by opponents Marlborough.
Marlborough gave away the wind advantage in the first half. This
proved to be an ill-advised decision, with Valley building their
lead to 33-7 by the halfway stage.
Valley's forwards led by prop Carl Hoeft, hooker Roger Wilson and
loose-forwards Gavin McLiver and Carl McDuff dominated in all
phases excepting the lineout.
McLiver scored four tries, two from driving forward play from 20m
out from the line. The backs also contributed some enterprising
rugby with winger Greg Ellis getting two tries.
Valley went off the boil in the second half but hung on to win with
Warren Hodges scoring a 60m intercept try just when Marlborough
looked like getting close.
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NORTH OTAGO 38 WEST COAST 13 Half-time: 3-6
at Dunedin
North Otago tries: R Skinner, E Nicholson, J Taeiloa, M Blair,
A Kennedy
kicks: P Bleach(2 conv, 3 pen)
West Coast tries: D Kitchen
kicks: M Foster(1 conv, 2 pen)
North Otago brought West Coast's winning streak to an end, scoring
5 tries in an exciting second half, in a match played at Carisbrook
as curtain raiser to the Otago-Auckland first division fixture.
Mike Foster kicked two penalties for West Coast, with Paddy Bleach
replying with one in a first half which was marred by a multitude
of errors.
In the second half the North Otago pack provided the platform for
a thrilling win. Two tries were scored early on, with Coast also
grabbing a converted try.
Bleach kicked a couple of penalties to put North Otago in control
at 21-13 after 60 minutes.
The last 15 minutes belonged to North Otago who ran in three tries
to John Taeiloa, Allun Kennedy and halfback Elton Nicholson.
RESULTS TABLES
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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NPC DIVISION 1
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
P W D L F A Pts
Counties 4 4 0 0 113 96 16
Auckland 4 3 0 1 95 58 13
Otago 4 3 0 1 102 79 13
Waikato 5 3 0 2 137 132 13
Canterbury 5 2 1 2 165 154 11
Wellington 4 2 0 2 76 79 9
North Harbour 4 1 1 2 70 79 7
King Country 5 1 0 4 103 139 4
Southland 5 0 0 5 92 137 4
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NPC DIVISION 2
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
P W D L F A Pts
Northland 4 4 0 0 180 48 16
Manawatu 5 3 0 2 164 112 13
Taranaki 4 3 0 1 199 88 12
Hawkes Bay 4 3 0 1 109 87 12
Bay of Plenty 4 2 0 2 113 71 9
Wairarapa Bush 5 2 0 3 113 159 8
South Canterbury 4 2 0 2 91 130 8
Nelson Bays 5 1 0 4 77 266 5
Mid Canterbury 5 0 0 5 81 166 1
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NPC DIVISION 3
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
P W D L F A Pts
Thames Valley 5 4 0 1 187 121 16
Poverty Bay 4 4 0 0 141 78 16
Horowhenua 5 3 0 2 113 107 12
Wanganui 4 2 0 2 69 53 9
Marlborough 5 2 0 3 144 141 8
West Coast 4 2 0 2 62 70 8
North Otago 4 2 0 2 106 116 8
Buller 4 1 0 3 65 142 4
East Coast 5 0 0 5 99 158 2
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NEXT WEEK
~~~~~~~~~
Key: RS Ranfurly Shield at stake
= NPC Division I
+ NPC Division II
# NPC Division III
Sat 9th Southland = vs Auckland Invercargill
Counties = vs North Harbour Pukekohe
Waikato = vs Otago Hamilton
Mid Canterbury + vs Bay of Plenty Ashburton
Hawkes Bay + vs Nelson Bays Napier
Manawatu + vs Northland Palmerston North
South Canterbury + vs Taranaki Timaru
East Coast # vs Buller Tikitiki
Horowhenua # vs North Otago Levin
Marlborough # vs Wanganui Blenheim
West Coast # vs Poverty Bay Greymouth
Sun 10th Canterbury = vs Wellington {RS} Christchurch
Well, no prizes for guessing which match I'm looking forward to next
week: the Ranfurly Shield clash between Canterbury and Wellington,
to be played on the Sunday. This should be an exciting match with
Wellington probably keeping the ball in hand and spinning it as wide
as possible as often as possible. Canterbury have more attacking variation
through Andrew Mehrtens' guiding boot, and it should be one to savour.
I have to go with Canterbury on this one, since they have become adept
at playing ranfurly Shield rugby, and will put on an intense performance,
however Wellington will be dangerous if they get ahead early on.
It's also do or die time for North Harbour after their surpise loss at
home to a revitalized Waikato side. If they fail to win then it will
be extremely hard for them to make the NPC semis. Coming up against
Counties away is a stern test, however they have the talent to win
this match. With Counties currently enjoying top spot, I think it
may well be a match which they will lose, simply because of the two
sides Harbour will be the more desperate for it.
Waikato entertain Otago, and this should also be a good match, with
the Mooloo men enjoying a new lease of life after the lesson they had
at Canterbury's hands earlier in the round. With Otago being a little
shaky away from home, this one is hard to predict, but I would think
that the cow bells might be ringing by the end.
Southland are visited by Auckland, and should not be a match for their
powerful forward-led approach. The Aucks look like they might be
regaining a little bit of form, and if they continue to improve will
be very hard to beat, even with the help of a little Invercargill
weather.
Cheers,
Paul.
--
____________________________________________________________________________
Paul Waite doc@docdevl.actrix.gen.nz
Wellington, New Zealand +64-4-233-1764
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