Heartbreak for Waikato as a last minute home team try sealed a 25-19 win for Taranaki at Yarrow Stadium in round 5 of the Bunnings NPC.

It was a poor start from the Mooloo’s as they allowed Taranaki to score three unconverted tries and jump out to a 15-nil lead after 14 minutes, with Vereniki Tikoisolomone finding his way over the tryline and a double to Daniel Rona.

It took Waikato 28 minutes to finally get on the scoreboard. After winning their own lineout 22 out from Taranaki’s line, Ollie Norris took the ball to the line and popped a pass to a speeding, Tepaea Cook-Savage, in support for him to run untouched to the line. Aaron Cruden was successful with the conversion and Waikato cut into the home team's lead and the score would remain 15-7 at halftime. 

Taranaki extended their lead early in the second half with a penalty, when Waikato were penalised for not rolling away. 

However the Mooloo Men answered back minutes later when Patrick McCurran powered his way over the tryline. After collecting an Aaron Cruden offload, McCurran then broke a tackle and carried a few defenders across the line to score in the left hand corner. Cruden this time was unsuccessful with the conversion and Waikato were within 6 points with 28 minutes to play.

Midway through the second half a Gideon Wrampling try put Waikato in front. Xavier Roe was able to charge down a Taranaki clearance and then proceeded to tap it back to D’Angelo Leuila in support who drew two defenders and he offloaded to Wrampling who went in under the posts. Leuila added the extras and Waikato took the lead 19-18.

Unfortunately a long range converted try by Josh Jacomb in the dying minutes for Taranaki helped them to a 25-19 win over Waikato, to retain the Ryan Wheeler Memorial Trophy.   

Taranaki 25 (Vereniki Tikoisolomone, Daniel Rona 2, Josh Jacomb tries; Josh Jacob 1conversion, 1 penalty)   

Waikato 19 (Tepaea Cook-Savage, Patrick McCurran, Gideon Wrampling tries; Aaron Cruden 1 conversion, D’Angelo Leuila 1 conversion) 

HT: 15-7

Article added: Monday 09 September 2024