Mooloo's topple Taniwhas
2nd October 2010 04:22PM
Superb start to the game with some quick and dynamic attacking play by Henry Speight saw a loose pass secured by Toby Lynn then offloaded by Stephen Donald wide to Soseni Anesi hit the line, offload to centre Save Tokula who puts the first points on the board 5-0 at 2mins.
Penalty to Northland saw an unsuspecting quick tap by Northland number 10 took our Mooloo men by surprise and take the 5points. Fullback Lachie Munro's conversion bounces off the uprights and the score remains at 5-5 at 5mins.
Outstanding break by Leonard, with a cheeky dummy to kick, saw him gap it and score our second try with Donald adding the extra 2 points to, 12-5 at 11mins.
Northland fullback Lachie Munro scores out wide after a slipped tackle and doesn't convert his own try to bring the score to 10-12 at 16mins.
Northland showing the power of their pack saw their number 8 Cameron Eyre score and Munro converts to stretch it out to an 8 point lead, 20-12 at 31mins.
Penalty against Northland saw Donald close the gap to 20-15 at 34mins.
Outstanding break by flanker Jack Lam started the phases leading to Henry Speight's outstanding offload back into the centre of the field where Brendon Leonard utilised his open line and scored under the post. Stephen Donald converted the try to put our boys in the lead 22-20 at 37mins.
Our Mooloo men come out of the sheds firing with some hard attacking and were rewarded with a penalty which Donald slots over the posts to push us out in front 25-20.
Bronson Murray leads the charge at our defensive line but we hold our ground and the Taniwha's are held up.
Penalty against Waikato for not binding in the scrum saw Northland get another 3 points on the board, 25-23 at 47mins.
Chris Pollock goes upstairs to check on a try for Northland which we believe was held up by Nathan White and Alex Bradley. TMO doesn't award the try.
Outstanding performances by our front-row trio see the Mooloo's gain another penalty against the Northland props to get us out of the danger zone.
Vern Kamo and Matt Vant Leven both show their wheels and gain the ground to offload the pass out wide to winger Henry Speight who gets us our bonus point try. Donald converts it, 32-23 at 58mins.
Try number five to Stephen Donald after skipper Nathan White takes off down the field and passes it back inside where Donald puts it over the line under the posts, setting up his ideal kicking position to get the extra 2 points, 39-23 at 62mins.
Lachie Munro and Brendon Leonard collide and Leonard goes down cold at 63mins. Get better soon Harry!!!!!!!!
Northland launches another attack and our boys relentlessly defend the line. Referee Chris Pollock again goes up stairs to the TMO who doesn't award the try thanks to Toby Lynn turning the attacking Taniwha at 66mins.
Penalty against us in the Northland's 10m line leads to Northland scoring another try, 39-28 at 68mins.
Penalty against Northland gives Donald the penalty kick at 38m, 42-28 at 70mins.
Late tackle by replacement hooker Vern Kamo forces Chris Pollock to go for his yellow card at 72mins.
Replacement second five-eighth Jackson Willison goes down with a knock to the head and Frank Halai comes on to cover.
Stephen Donald hammered the nail into the coffin after another penalty with 4mins left in the game 45-28.
Late try to the Taniwha's see the full time score 45-33.
First Half:
Half time score - 22-20
Tries: Brendon Leonard (2), Save Tokula (1)
Conversions: Stephen Donald (2)
Penalty: Stephen Donald (1)
Second Half:
Full time score - 45-33
Tries: Henry Speight (1), Stephen Donald (1)
Conversions: Stephen Donald (2)
Penalty: Stephen Donald (3)
The Waikato team who played Northland on Saturday 2nd October was;
1. Toby Smith
2. Aled de Malmanche
3. Nathan White (captain)
4. Toby Lynn
5. Romana Graham
6. Dominiko Waqaniburotu
7. Jack Lam
8. Alex Bradley
9. Brendon Leonard
10. Stephen Donald
11. Henry Speight
12. Christian Lealiifano
13. Save Tokula
14. Sosene Anesi
15. Trent Renata
Reserves:
16. Vern Kamo (for Aled de Malmanche @ 54mins)
17. Ben May (for Toby Smith @ 68 mins)
18. Matt Vant Leven (for Romana Graham @ 49 mins)
19. Zak Hohneck (for Alex Bradley @ 62 mins)
20. Malcolm Barnes (for Brendon Leonard @ 63 mins)
21. Jackson Willison (for Christian Lealiifano @63 mins)
22. Frank Halai (for Jackson Willison @ 72 mins)
