• Magpies pipped in Battle of the Bays

Magpies pipped in Battle of the Bays

A poor final 30 minutes contributed to the Hawke's Bay Magpies rugby side's 22-17 loss to the Bay of Plenty Steamers in Tauranga today.
 
With their victory in the eighth round Mitre 10 Cup crossover clash at the Tauranga Domain the Steamers retained the MacRae-Shelford Cup and kept their slim hopes of a Premiership semifinal berth alive. With their bonus point the Magpies remained in the hunt for Championship home semifinal and final berths.
 
As usual Magpies captain and hooker Ash Dixon was spot on with his post-match summary.
 
"Our first half was pretty good in terms of looking after the ball. In fact first 50 minutes was pretty good. But we didn't nail things towards the back end of the second half ... our kicking game was non-existent and we didn't have a chase line," Dixon said.
 
"We can still take a few positives out of this game on Monday," Dixon added.
 
The Magpies, who haven't beaten the Steamers since 2018, started well when busy winger Lolagi Visinia scored after a clever kick ahead from centre Stacey Ili. The Steamers equalised three minutes later when fullback and player-of-the-match Kaleb Trask scored after a solo hit and spin move.
 

 
Trask put Bay of Plenty ahead 8-5 with an 11th minute penalty. The Magpies regained the lead in the 16th minute when winger Jonah Lowe, who was just as busy as Visinia, scored after winning the chase to a kick ahead from blindside flanker Marino Mikaele-Tu'u.
 
First five-eighth Caleb Makene added the conversion. Dixon was unlucky to be beaten to the touch down by Steamers openside flanker Mitch Karpik in the 21st minute after a spectacular solo kick and chase move.
 
However Dixon was rewarded for his efforts with a 27th minute try from a lineout drive which put his side ahead 17-8. The Steamers, who were starved of possession for most of the first half, replied with a 33rd minute intercept try from winger Emoni Narawa. 
 
Trask slotted the conversion.
 
The only scoring in the second half saw Trask score his second try following a slick pass from former Magpies utility back and Steamers centre Mathew Skipworth-Garland. Trask again added the extras.
 
Providing their top starting XV is selected next weekend the Magpies should be able to bounce back from this defeat and retain the Ranfurly Shield. Looshead prop Pouri Rakete-Stones had another powerful display while tighthead prop Namatahi Waa can be proud of his first appearance of the season.
 
In-form No 8 Devan Flanders again had a massive workrate while halfback Folau Fakatava again impressed. A big plus for the Magpies was their discipline.
They were awarded 18 penalties, 12 more than the Steamers.
 
Along with Trask captain and first five-eighth Otere Black and substitute second five-eighth Scott Curry, were, prominent in the Steamers backline. Karpik and substitute No 8 Joe Tupe were the pick of the Steamers fowards.
 
Match facts:
 
Heartstoppers: Magpies pivot Caleb Makene kicking dead when he was kicking for touch after the visitors were awarded a 15th minute penalty.  Makene's shocking attempt at a penalty goal in the 50th minute. 
 
Turning point: When Bay of Plenty prop Tevita Mafileo stole the ball from the Magpies when they were attempting a drive from a lineout in the 74th minute.
 
Player of the match: Steamers fullback Kaleb Trask. Seventeen points including two tries. Captain and hooker Ash Dixon was the Magpies best.
 
Scorers: Bay of Plenty 22 (Kaleb Trask 2, Emoni Narawa tries; Trask 2 cons, pen), Hawke's Bay 17 (Lolagi Visinia, Jonah Lowe, Ash Dixon tries; Caleb Makene con). HT: HB 17-15.