News

Magpies rewrite the history books

August 29 2008

Hawke's Bay ended a 24-year winless streak at Carisbrook when they beat Otago 19-10 in Friday's Air New Zealand Cup clash.

The Magpies had not won in Dunedin since 1976 but proved the superior side all round to earn a deserved win.

The visitors defended stoutly for long periods of the match, particularly in the second half, as they shut down any chance of a late comeback from Otago after leading 16-3 at half-time.

Hawke's Bay pivot Matt Berquist was the star of the match, returning a 100 per cent record as he kicked three penalties, a drop-goal and a conversion.

His haul of 14 points took his competition tally to 60 from five games, easily making him the leading points-scorer in the 2008 championship so far.

Otago began the game at pace, mounting some serious pressure at ruck time but they failed to threaten the Magpies' line. With Otago looking to keep the ball in hand more so than searching for territory with the boot, they inevitably conceded a penalty inside their own half.

Berquist calmly slotted the goal from a handy range to give the Magpies a 3-0 lead.

Otago finally converted possesion into points when fly-half Chris Noakes kicked a penalty to tie the scores up at 3-all.

Berquist then potted a 42 metre drop-goal in the 26th minute and Hawke's Bay took a surprise 6-3 lead.

Young talent Zac Guildford put the visitors further into the lead, making an incisive break from close range, after a strong build up from his forward pack. His try and the sweetly struck conversion from Berquist pushed the lead out to 13-3.

Shortly before half-time, Berquist added another three points courtesy of an infringement from Otago close to their line.

Otago came out firing in the second spell, with a far more conscientious display from their forward pack. However, for all Otago's endeavour, they failed to make a real incision into the sizeable lead.

Hawke's Bay's defensive screen was water tight as Otago mounted surge after surge at their visitors' line.

Instead, it was Berquist who opened the scoring in the second half with a penalty goal from wide out in the 72nd minute. Hawke's Bay's lead increased to 19-3.

Finally, Noakes gave a miraculous offload to Daniel Bowden who went over untouched from close to the line in the 76th minute to give Otago a brief glimmer of hope, but in the end, time was not on their side.

The scorers:

For Otago:

Try: Bowden

Con: Noakes

Pen: Noakes

For Hawkes Bay:

Try: Guildford

Con: Berquist

Pen: Berquist 3

Drop goal: Berquist

The teams:

Otago: 15 Glen Horton, 14 Karne Hesketh/Lucky Mulipola, 13 Brett Mather, 12 Aaron Bancroft, 11 Ben Smith, 10 Chris Noakes, 9 Sean Romans, 8 Steven Setephano, 7 Craig Newby (c), 6 Adam Thomson, 5 Tom Donnelly, 4 Ross Kennedy, 3 Ben Nolan, 2 Peter Mirrielees, 1 Keith Cameron.

Replacements: 16 Jason MacDonald, 17 Jed Vercoe, 18 Paul Grant, 19 Seko Qaraniqio, 20 Toby Morland, 21 Daniel Bowden, 22 Lucky Mulipola/Casey Stone.

Hawke's Bay: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Jason Kupa, 13 Jason Shoemark, 12 Sam Giddens, 11 Zac Guildford, 10 Matt Berquist, 9 Danny Lee (captain), 8 George Naoupu, 7 Karl Lowe, 6 Michael Johnson, 5 Bryn Evans, 4 Matt Egan, 3 Anthony Perenise, 2 Hikawera Elliot, 1 Faka'anaua Taumalolo.

Replacements: 16 Ash Dixon, 17 Josh Keys, 18 Johan Snyman, 19 Adam Bradey, 20 Chris Eaton, 21 Richard Buckman, 22 Mark Jackman.

Referee: Keith Brown

Television match official: Chris Pollock