High-risk tactics pay dividends
2nd October 2009 01:52PM
Article courtesy of EVAN PEGDEN - Waikato Times
A third win in a row and a rare bonus point last night have propelled Waikato into the national rugby championship top four for the first time.
But it is only a temporary situation with the remaining six games of round 10 of the Air New Zealand Cup still to be played and the man his coach describes as "the rock" of the team, Callum Bruce, warns Waikato still have to win their remaining away game as well as the last two at home, plus pick up bonus points, if they are to make the semifinals.
Waikato beat North Harbour 33-22 at Waikato Stadium, scoring four tries to three, with second five-eighth Bruce a central figure on attack and defence as well as with his sound goal-kicking.
The Mooloos travel to Dunedin next week to play Bruce's old team, Otago, in a Saturday afternoon game, knowing they have won only two of their six away fixtures so far this season and that Otago will be tough at Carisbrook.
"We're on a roll, I guess, at home," Bruce said last night after taking his season points tally to 117.
Important lessons had been learnt about playing away from home, which finally saw the right attitude produce a hard-fought victory over Taranaki last week, he said.
It became high-risk tactics at times and while they managed to get a try-scoring bonus point they also gave up three soft touchdowns in the second half as a result.
"You have to live with that," said head coach Chris Gibbes.
"At the end of the day we did show some real resilience to defence when we did turn the ball over and they got down our end."
Gibbes said a key to the victory had been the quality of ball produced by his Mooloo forward pack.
Waikato got away to another flying start, skipper Liam Messam scoring a cracking try just a minute after kickoff, set up by a sizzling cut off first-five Stephen Donald's inside shoulder by blind-side winger Dwayne Sweeney who hunted mostly with success for that pass all night.
The home team were out to 11-0 by the 13th minute through Bruce's goal-kicking but Harbour defended stoutly and Waikato struggled to break them down again in the half despite a welter of ruck ball, leading 14-3 at the break.
When centre George Pisi was set up for a try by lively attacking fullback Jack McPhee eight minutes into the second half, Harbour were right back in the game but outstanding back-to-back tries by wings Tim Mikkelson and Sweeney put the home side back in control at 28-8.
However, quick tries to Harbour wing Ken Pisi followed seven minutes later by replacement back Nafi Tuitavake had Harbour back within six again.
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It took until the last five minutes of the match for Waikato to secure the victory and the bonus point, Donald sending a wipers kick to the right corner for young wing Henry Speight to snap up from under the nose of All Black Rudi Wulf and score.
A solid tight-five effort and another strong showing from the loose forwards, with open-side flanker Jack Lam a standout both at the breakdowns and with ball in hand, ensured a strong platform for the backs where Brendon Leonard and Donald launched their outsides with slick passing.
There is still a tendency to kick away good ball, particularly turnover possession, but the amount of running rugby produced in dry conditions last night must have given the Waikato backs more confidence to play attacking rugby.
