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Israel Dagg - Source: Photosport -
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Hawke's Bay moved into the top four of rugby's Air NZ Cup with a
dominant 32-10 victory over Otago in Napier on Saturday.
Having started the round eighth on the standings, Hawke's Bay saw
the four teams immediately above them -- Tasman, Auckland,
Wellington and Taranaki -- all lose before they kicked off at
McLean Park.
But they needed maximum points to climb into the top four and they
did it with fullback Israel Dagg and skipper Jason Shoemark each
getting two tries.
They were aided by a great start, sprinting out of the blocks to be
12-0 up after just five minutes, with Dagg and then Shoemark
scoring in the same corner.
Dagg got the opener before the clock had ticked over the one-minute
mark.
Flanker Karl Lowe won a turnover, Hawke's Bay spread the ball and
Shoemark chipped through for Dagg to regather and cross.
Shoemark got his first touchdown when the home side again went wide
and the centre forced his way over.
Looking to avoid a third successive defeat, Otago got on the board
with a penalty to first five-eighth Michael Witt, and they were
kept in the game by a heavy penalty count against the home
side.
But Hawke's Bay pulled away again through a classy second try to
Dagg, who stood up marker Fetu'u Vainikolo and then had too much
speed for the cover defence.
Matt Berquist's second successful sideline conversion pushed the
score out to 22-3.
Having been warned by referee Keith Brown for repeated
infringements at the breakdown, Hawke's Bay finally had a player
sinbinned, with lock Ross Kennedy going off five minutes from
halftime.
But that didn't stop them moving further head just out from the
break with Berquist landing a penalty.
Hawke's Bay came back out searching for a bonus-point try and
almost succeeded when a big driving maul was followed by Dagg being
held up over the line.
After a period camped in Otago territory, they finally got what
they wanted, with Shoemark going through a hole close to line to
score by the goalposts.
Down 2-32, Otago came back into the contest and got their reward
with 15 minutes left when replacement No 8 Paul Grant went over
from the back of the scrum.
Replacement first five-eighth Glenn Dickson added the
conversion.
