Waikato have moved to the top of the Premiership table with a 27-20 victory of Taranaki in week 7 of the Mitre 10 Cup.

In perfect conditions, Waikato opened the scoring with Beaudein Waaka crossed over in the corner for the first try of the match. Fletcher Smith added the extras from the sideline and the home team led 7-0 after ten minutes.

Jayson Potroz got the visitors on the scoreboard only three minutes later, after Waikato gave away a penalty out in front of the goal posts. Potroz was successful with the penalty shot at goal and reduced Waikato’s lead to four points.

Just after the midway point, Fletcher Smith boot put Waikato’s lead back out to seven points when the visitors were penalised for side entry at the ruck.

With nine minutes remaining in the first half, Taranaki drew the scores level when Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens crossed for their first try after some excellent counter attack. Potroz was successful with the conversion and the scores were 10 all.

During the build up to the try, captain Luke Jacobson, was shown a yellow card for tackling a player without the ball and Waikato were reduced to fourteen men leading up to halftime.

However Waikato went into the shed with a slight advantage after Fletcher Smith was successful with a penalty kick after the siren as the home team lead 13-10 at the break.

In the second half it took nineteen minutes for the scores to change when Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens scored his second of the match. Potroz hit the up right and was unsuccessful with the conversion as the visitors hit the front for the first time in the match.

Waikato immediately hit back after Luke Jacobson busted through the Taranaki defence to offload to a charging Rivez Reihana to score and put the home team back in front. Reihana converted his own try and Waikato had a five point lead.

Reihana was involved in the next try, after taking a pick and go, close to the try line, he then offloaded to Liam Messam to crash over to help extend the lead. Reihana’s conversion saw Waikato’s lead stretched out to twelve points.

But Taranaki weren’t ready to give up as they brought the margin back to seven points after Daniel Rona scored an unconverted try with eleven left on the clock.

The final play of the game Taranaki came charging up the field, as they desperately looked to try and salvage a late draw but a knock on cost them the chance and Waikato held on to win 27-20.

The victory also saw Waikato retain the Ryan Wheeler Memorial trophy and claim back the Chiefs Country Cup.

Waikato 27 (Beaudein Waaka, Rivez Reihana, Liam Messam tries; Fletcher Smith 1 conversion, 2 penalties, Rivez Reihana 2 conversions)

Taranaki 20 (Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens 2, Daniel Rona tries; Jayson Potroz 1 conversion, 1 penalty)

HT 13-10

Article added: Tuesday 27 October 2020