• Mighty Magpies comeback in the Naki

Mighty Magpies comeback in the Naki

It was certainly a game of two halves in the final hit out of the Mitre 10 Cup round robin match up between Hawke’s Bay Magpies and Taranaki in  Inglewood today.

Taranaki hit their straps early and led 28-10 at halftime, dominating all the play, but Magpies coach Mark Ozich must have stirred up his side as they scoredf 24 points in the second half, to take the game 34-33. 

Taranaki first five Stephen Perofeta was all class in the first half moving his side all around the park as well as scoring a try in the 25th minute after one of many Magpie mistakes. 

However, after failing to close the gap right on halftime with a disallowed second try to Solomone Funaki, some stern words during the break, spurred the Magpies into action with two quick tries in the 44 minute to Funaki and lock Tom Parsons in the 42 minute. 

Funaki’s try was just desserts after his disallowed try on halftime by the video referee claimed he’d lost the ball over the line. As what’s become the norm these days, multiple slow-motion replays taking exhaustive time, still couldn’t convince the video referee. 

Taranaki did manage to extend their lead briefly in the second half when Tom Florence charged over from a lineout, but the conversion missed by Jayson Potroz, which ended up being the crucial difference in winning the game. 

Ozich brought on the experience of Ash Dixon, who replaced a strong performing Kianu Kereru-Symes, brothers Gareth and Bryn Evans, Lincoln McClutchie and Stacey Ili, as well as Connor McLeod.  

In the 65th minute the Magpies were awarded a penalty try, after Taranaki pulled down a rolling maul, edging them closer to Taranaki at 29-33.  

It was then left to in-form loose forward Devan Flanders to seal the match with a try soon after. If there was an end of season All Black tour to the United Kingdom, his name would surely be read out.  

Defensively and on attack he was the leader of a dominant loose forward trio and his try took the Magpies out to a 34-33 lead. The try came from another lineout on the Taranaki try line, but rather than use a rolling maul to get across the line, the ball went wide and after two strong surges, the ball was passed out to Flanders to muscle his way past two defenders to put the ball down untouched.   

Taranaki fought gallantly for the final few minutes and one last attacking play was shut down by Lolagi Visinia racing up to shut down a backline movement, forcing a forward pass.  

However, Taranaki had one last chance to take the game with a lineout from a penalty 40m from their try line however former All Black Bryn Evans, showed his experience snaffling the ball in the air, enabling the Magpies to play out the final minutes. 

Both teams now return to Napier’s McLean Park for their semi-final this weekend.  

Stand-in captain Kereru-Symes said the team sorted out their playing structures in the second half, after what he admits was a poor showing in the first half.  

“We stuck to our structures in the first 20 minutes of the second half and that was the difference.” 

 

Player of the Day: Devan Flanders.

Scorers:  

Hawke’s Bay 

Tries 

S Funaki 2, Parsons, penalty try, Flanders 

Makene 2 conv, penalty 

 

Taranaki  

Tries 

L Ormond, Perofeta, K Boshier, T Florence  

Potroz  

2 cons,  3 penalties