Hawke’s Bay thwarted Taranaki in a chaotic NPC quarterfinal riddled with drama and disallowed tries in Napier last night.
The Magpies advanced to the semifinals with a 26-12 win at McLean Park and will believe they can win the province’s first major NPC title.
Taranaki will be lamenting their wastefulness after having three tries disallowed and scoring none to see their season end.
They had enough chances and had player advantages after their first five-eighth, Josh Jacomb, was clobbered twice by high tackles in each half that led to yellow cards for Folau Fakatava and Isaia Walker-Leawere.
It wasn’t their night, epitomised by winger Adam Lennox’s try being ruled out in the final minutes.
The visitors only had Jacomb’s four penalty goals to show for their efforts.
Hawke’s Bay’s greater ruthless streak was the difference in reaching the last four with tries for Le Roux Malan, Miracle Faiilagi, Lincoln McClutchie and Sam Smith, with winger Jonah Lowe an energetic presence for their superior attack led by No 10 McClutchie.
Fakatava was also a menace for the Magpies in attack and defence.
All Blacks lock Josh Lord was an effective force clattering into Hawke’s Bay’s defence and helped their scrum dominate. Lord was determined to make an impact and was treated for cramp in the final stages after emptying the tank.
Taranaki squandered their attacking dominance and had Taniela Rakuro and Arese Poliko’s tries ruled out by the TMO in the first half.
Rakuro’s effort was chalked off by a tight forward pass decision and Poliko spilled the ball with the line at his mercy.
Luck did swing Taranaki’s way when Neria Fomai’s try for Hawke’s Bay was denied because of a contentious knock-on after halftime.
However, the home’s side weight of possession forced Taranaki to scramble and Kaylum Boshier was sin binned for infringements near their line in the second half.
When McClutchie strolled over, they were in command and Smith’s late try left Taranaki with too great a mountain to climb.
[Source: Stuff.co]
