Sports After Dark

Waikato claim Ranfurly Shield in dominant fashion

Posted by Hamish McBrearty on August 25th, 2007

Air New Zealand Cup points took a back seat to the Ranfurly Shield as Waikato came to town to challenge Harbour for the Log o’ Wood. What was expected to be a close game turned into a cake walk as the challengers ran away with a 52-7 win.

Harbour began their Shield defence well, executing their set piece play efficiently and kicking in behind the rushing Waikato defensive line to keep the challengers on the back foot. Unfortunately for the defenders this only lasted for the opening five minutes as the smaller but more athletic Waikato pack began to get the upper hand.

Waikato fly half Stephen Donald opened the scoring in the 10th minute with a penalty goal, which was quickly followed by the first try of the game from winger James Kamana. After Harbour turned the ball over on half way, Waikato half back David Bason ran down the narrowest of blind sides and put the flying Kamana away. Donald would convert to make the score 10-0.

As the challenger’s forward pack continued to press home their advantage, they created more chances, but were let down by poor handling at times. However the constant pressure eventually told as full back Dwayne Sweeny broke some ineffective tackles and off loaded to Marty Holah for Waikato’s second try.

The first half ended in the worst possible way for Harbour, conceding a third try when Stephen Bates ran through a yawning gap to score under the posts and losing captain Nick Williams to a serious knee injury in the same passage of play. Donald would convert the try to send his team into the break up by 24-0 while Williams was taken from the ground on a stretcher.

Harbour began the second half brilliantly, after Waikato failed to control the kick off Harbour were able to claim possession. A break in mid field by centre Anthony Tuitavake set up winger Jack McPhee for Harbour’s only try of the match, McPhee added the side line conversion.

For a few minutes it looked as if Harbour were about to make a comeback, but normal service resumed and Waikato got back into the driver’s seat, scoring their fourth try through winger Roy Kinikinilau after a brilliant break by No. 8 Liam Messam running like a centre.

Waikato continued to score points at regular intervals with Bates, Donald and Roimata Hansell-Pune all touching down and Donald converting each try. Donald finished with a personal haul of 22 points and regularly showed up in support after line breaks.

While the backs may have been the ones with their names on the score sheet, this victory came down to the play of the Waikato pack. The loose trio of Bates, Holah and Messam was brilliant, completely dominating their opposites while the shorted and lighter pack also had an advantage in the scrums and line outs.

Waikato now head home to prepare for their first Ranfurly Shield defence against Canterbury, while Harbour play host to cellar dwellers Manawatu.