Injuries took their toll on Waikato as they suffered a 36-19 loss to Canterbury at Apollo Projects Stadium, Christchurch, for round 9 of the Bunnings NPC.

Waikato would lose the services of Quinn Tupaea before the game so Austin Anderson would come off the bench to start at inside centre and Waisake Salabiau would come onto the bench.

The home team would get on the scoreboard first when George Bell barged his way over the try line. Issac Hutchingson could not add the extras and Cantebruy led 5-nil after 5 minutes.

Corey Kellow would extend Canterbury’s lead approaching the midway point of the first half, after Nic Shearer went through a gap in the Waikato defence. He would then offload to Kellow in support and he would finish off the home team's try. Hutchinson would convert the try and Canterbury would lead 12-nil.

Waikato would also lose flanker, Patrick McCurran, outside back, Jole Naufahu, and flyhalf, D’Angelo Leuila in a short period of time.

Waikato’s first points would be scored by replacement Oli Mathis. The openside flanker would find himself in the unusual position of playing on the right wing and he would look out of place after collecting a pass from a Samipeni Finau break. Mathis' pace would see him out sprint two defenders to score. Teapea Cook-Savage would add the extras and Waikato cut the home team's lead to 5 points.

Canterbury would extend their lead to 10 points approaching halftime when a long pass out to the left hand side would find Ngatungane Punivai to score. Hutchinson could not add the extras and the home team went into the halftime break with a 17-7 lead.

Hutchinson would add a try to his tally when he scored in the left hand corner. He could not convert his own try and Canterbury extended their lead to 15 points, 7 minutes into the second half.

Hutchinson would score his second midway through the second half. After a poor clearing kick from Waikato the ball would fall right into Hutchinson’s hands and he would beat a few defenders to score next to the posts. This time he would convert his own try and Canterbury led 29-7.

However 5 minutes later Waikato were in for their second try, again it would be the combination of Finau and Mathis. Finau would put in a grubber kick and Mathis would use his pace to kick the ball out of the grasp of the Canterbury defender. He would then out sprint everyone to plant the ball down. Cook-Savage would add the extras and cut the home team's advantage to 15 points.

Pita Anae-Ah Sue with a pick and go close to the line would score Waikato’s third try of the afternoon. Cook-Savage this time would not be successful with the conversion but Waikato were now only 10 points down with 5 minutes left to play.

But unfortunately Canterbury would have the last score of the day with Hutchinson completing his hat trick. He would also add the extras from close to the sideline, handing Waikato a 36-19 loss.

Despite the loss Waikato finished the regular season in 8th place and will now travel to New Plymouth next weekend to face Taranaki in a Bunnings NPC Quarter-Final.

Canterbury 36 (George Bell, Cory Kellow, Ngatungane Punivai, Issac Hutchinson 3 tries; Isaac Hutchinson 3 conversions)      

Waikato 19 (Oli Mathis 2, Pita Anae-Ah Sue tries; Tepaea Cook-Savage 2 conversion)   

HT: 17-7

Article added: Monday 07 October 2024