Bay of Plenty no match for Southland
Southland claimed a huge 45-11 win after seeing off Bay of Plenty in Saturday's second quarter-final at Mount Maunganui and will now head down to Wellington to play the Lions in the semi-finals next week.
Southland claimed a huge 45-11 win after seeing off Bay of Plenty in Saturday's second quarter-final at Mount Maunganui and will now head down to Wellington to play the Lions in the semi-finals next week.
This match appealed as the most even of the quarter-finals with fourth-placed Bay of Plenty hosting the fifth-placed Stags.
But Southland dominated for long periods to reverse the 22-24 loss at the same ground in round-robin play two weeks ago and earn a handsome win.
Bay of Plenty looked lethal right from the get-go and went close in the far left corner before the ball was quickly passed to the right to centre Nigel Hunt who showed great strength to barge over the line and score the home side's first – and only – try of the match.
Southland hit back brilliantly in the next minute however, when winger Pehi Te Whare sprinted through a gap before passing inside and then recollecting the ball himself, fend off a defender and score for the Stags.
Fly-half Blair Stewart nailed the extra two and gave the visitors the 7-5 advantage after seven minutes of intense rugby.
Jimmy Cowan was an important figure for Southland and was rewarded with his side's second try in the 27th minute after Te Whare burst through from midfield to pop a pass for his scrum-half.
Bay of Plenty were unable to get their game going and the usually reliable loose forward trio of Colin Bourke, Tanerau Latimer and Solomon King were unable to make an impression on the game.
Southland ran hard and straight at every chance and there was always plenty of support on hand for the man with the ball.
Lock Chris King scored Southland's third try of the first half after a break by hooker Jason Rutledge to give his side a comanding 21-8 lead at half-time.
Fly-half Mike Delany kicked a penalty early in the second half to cut Southland's lead to ten points but a faltering Bay of Plenty were buried under a deluge of points.
Stewart charged down a clearing kick to score a decisive try for the visitors that took the game out of reach for the home side.
Some straight running from replacement back Willie Rickards allowed Jason Kawau to score as the Stags started to punish some tiring defence from the Steamers.
Stewart added another penalty and Te Whare grabbed his brace to complete the scoring with another try with three minutes left on the clock.
Whilst the Steamers will be disappointed with this finish, they have come a long way from the side that finished second from the bottom last year.
The scorers:
For Bay of Plenty:
Tries: Hunt
Pen: Delany 2
For Southland:
Tries: Te Whare 2, Cowan, Bekhuis, Stewart, Kawau
Con: Stewart 6
Pen: Stewart
Bay of Plenty: 15 Zar Lawrence, 14 Lance MacDonald, 13 Cory Aporo, 12 Nigel Hunt, 11 Jason Hona, 10 Mike Delany, 9 Ruki Tipuna, 8 Colin Bourke, 7 Tanerau Latimer, 6 Solomon King, 5 Culum Retallick, 4 John Moore, 3 John McGougan, 2 John Pareanga, 1 Joe Savage.
Replacements: 16 Dean Elmiger, 17 Matt Wallace, 18 Josh Katene, 19 Aiden Kuka, 20 Luke Braid, 21 Josh Hall, 22 Toby Arnold.
Southland: 15 Robbie Robinson, 14 Kendrick Lynn, 13 Matt Saunders, 12 Jason Kawau, 11 Pehi Te Whare, 10 Blair Stewart, 9 Jimmy Cowan, 8 David Hall, 7 Tim Boys, 6 Dion Bates, 5 Hoani Macdonald, 4 Josh Bekhuis, 3 Chris King, 2 Jason Rutledge, 1 Jamie Mackintosh.
Replacements: 16 Matt Holloway, 17 Fai Mika, 18 Daniel Ramsay, 19 John Hardie/ Joe Tuineau, 20 Scott Cowan, 21 Mark Wells, 22 Willie Rickards.
Referee: Steve Walsh
Touch judges: Garratt Williamson, Matthew Stanish
Television match official: Ben Skeen