News
Waikato nab all five points
August 08 2009
Waikato registered a solid display to beat Manawatu 30-22 at Waikato Stadium on Saturday, including four tries.
After a disappointing opening day defeat at Southland last week, the Mooloo Men had a point to prove, and Sione Lauaki and Aled de Malmanche both stepped up to the plate with performances beffitting their All Black status. Brendon Leonard also thrived on the supply of clean ball.
It took time for the Moolos to register their first points though, with the penalties forced out of the Turbos defence not punished by shots for goal, but with De Malmanche struggling to find his jumpers at the line-outs.
Waikato captain Liam Messam finally opened the scoring in the 25th minute after full-back Soseni Anesi sprinted down the sideline before passing inside and allowing the blindside flanker to score on a massive overlap.
Manawatu struck back against the run of play when centre Johnny Leota strolled through a gaping hole to draw Anesi and pass inside to wing Lote Raikabula. Aaron Cruden's conversion gave Manawatu the lead.
Lauaki took the lead back with a typically barnstorming try near half-time, but sustained a dead leg in the process and didn't re-emerge after the break.
Penalties were exchanged after the break, but it was Waikato fly-half Sam Christie who struck the killer blow by fending off two players to dot down under the sticks. Callum Bruce made it 22-10 with the extras, and landed a subsequent penalty to take his team three scores clear.
Manawatu constantly being stretched the Waikato defence around the outside as the Manawatu wingers went close to scoring on a number of occasions.
It was the New Zealand U20 captain Cruden who finally broke through the Waikato line after showing a great sidestep to score, then convert and slightly close the gap with 12 minutes remaining in the match.
The home side hit back straight away though when Anesi found himself in a gap before showing huge pace to run around the fullback and score Waikato's fourth try to wrap up the bonus point.
It was the Turbos who had the final say of the afternoon when a beautifully executed wrap-around move allowed replacement Isaac Thompson to score, although he then missed the conversion attempt and failed to earn Manawatu the bonus point.
The scorers:
For Waikato:
Tries: Messam, Lauaki, Christie, Anesi
Con: Bruce 2
Pen: Bruce 2
For Manawatu:
Tries: Raikabula, Cruden, Thompson
Con: Cruden 2
Pen: Cruden
Waikato: 15 Sosene Anesi, 14 Tim Mikkelson, 13 Roimata Hansell-Pune, 12 Callum Bruce, 11 Dwayne Sweeney, 10 Sam Christie, 9 Brendon Leonard, 8 Sione Lauaki, 7 Jack Lam, 6 Liam Messam (captain), 5 Romana Graham, 4 Toby Lynn, 3 Ben May, 2 Aled de Malmanche, 1 Hikairo Forbes
Replacements: 16 Ole Avei, 17 Kieran Ramage, 18 Kent Fife, 19 Jordan Smiler, 20 David Bason, 21 Trent Renata, 22 Save Tokula
Manawatu: 15 Casey Stone, 14 Andre Taylor, 13 Johnny Leota, 12 Francis Bryant, 11 Lote Raikabula, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Hamish Gosling, 7 Doug Tietjens, 6 Nick Crosswell (captain), 5 James Goode, 4 Michael Fitzgerald, 3 David Te Moana, 2 Rob Foreman, 1 Grant Polson
Replacements: 16 Sean O'Connor, 17 Talau Hala, 18 ReeceRobinson, 19 Brent Thompson , 20 Issac Thompson , 21 Tevita Taufui, 22 Kurt Baker
Referee: Glenn Newman