Waikato fall at first hurdle

Southland gained the ascendancy in the second half to score a deserved 16-6 win over Waikato in their Air New Zealand Cup match in Invercargill on Saturday.

Southland gained the ascendancy in the second half to score a deserved 16-6 win over Waikato in their Air New Zealand Cup match in Invercargill on Saturday.

It was the Stags first win over Waikato since 2003. Southland scored the only try and Robbie Robinson's boot contributed thirteen points. Waikato centre Callum Bruce was the sole points-scorer for the Mooloo Men, slotting two penalties.

Both teams struggled to find any cohesion in the first period and only had a penalty each to show for their efforts in the opening 40 minutes.

Bruce put Waikato in front with an early penalty after the breather but it was Southland who had came out with a bit more determination to connect their game between the forward and backs.

The tight five of Joe Tuineau, Josh Bekhuis, Chris King, David Hall and Jamie Mackintosh outplayed their Waikato counterparts – Kent Fife, Toby Lynn, Nathan White, Ole Avei and Ben May – to put down a platform for scrum-half Scott Cowan to operate from.

However, it was experienced centre Jason Kawau who sparked the only try of the game when he snaffled a loose ball from a Waikato ruck. Kawau's break was ably supported and the Southland pack were able to mount a period of sustained pressure on the Waikato line.

The Waikato defence finally cracked when winger Pehi Te Whare jinked through to dot down by an upright for Robinson to convert.

Waikato were unable to get back into the game as they continued to make mistakes, losing seven of their own line-out throws and spilling the ball when they had it.

Robinson kicked another two penalties late in the half to put the game out of Waikato's reach.

The scorers:

For Southland:
Try: Te Whare
Con: Robinson
Pens: Robinson 3

For Waikato:
Pens: Bruce 2

Southland: 15 Robbie Robinson, 14 Pehi Te Whare, 13 Kenny Lynn, 12 Jason Kawau, 11 Matt Saunders/Tony Koonwaiyou, 10 James Wilson, 9 Scott Cowan, 8 Hua Tamariki, 7 Tim Boys, 6 John Hardie, 5 Joe Tuineau, 4 Josh Bekhuis, 3 Chris King, 2 David Hall, 1 Jamie Mackintosh (c).
Replacements: 16 Jason Rutledge, 17 Fai Mika, 18 Dave Gannon, 19 Dion Bates, 20 Sonny Rangitoheriri, 21 Tony Koonwaiyou/Seminar Manu, 22 Mark Wells.

Waikato: 15 Sosene Anesi, 14 Tim Mikkelson, 13 Roimata Hansell-Pune, 12 Callum Bruce, 11 Dwayne Sweeney, 10 Sam Christie, 9 David Bason, 8 Liam Messam (c), 7 Jack Lam, 6 Dominiko Waqaniburotu, 5 Kent Fife, 4 Toby Lynn, 3 Nathan White, 2 Ole Avei, 1 Ben May.
Replacements: 16 Vern Kamo, 17 Hikairo Forbes, 18 Romana Graham, 19 Jordan Smiler, 20 Josh Sutherland, 21 Trent Renata, 22 Save Tokula.