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Off-loading: Thomas Waldrom of Hawke's Bay - Source: Photosport -
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Hawke's Bay will hold their breath for 24 hours after putting
one foot through the Air NZ Cup rugby semifinal door with a 32-13
defeat of Northland on Friday night.
However, their four-try success at Whangarei may be the last act of
the season for the winners, who will pray Waikato can't produce a
bonus point defeat of Auckland in Hamilton on Saturday.
If they do, Waikato will claim fourth place because of the
competition's rules regarding how to separate teams tied in the
final standings.
It is decided by who won the corresponding match between the sides
during the season, in this case favouring Waikato's 30-22 defeat of
Hawke's Bay in Hamilton last month.
Southland, who are level with Hawke's Bay on 41 points, are
guaranteed to finish third as they beat both Hawke's Bay and
Waikato this year.
New Ranfurly Shield holders Southland will travel to second-placed
Wellington for one semifinal next weekend while Canterbury will
host the other, against either Waikato or Hawke's Bay.
Friday night's result eliminates sixth-placed Auckland from
contention, the 16-time champions hopes jolted when Southland upset
Canterbury in last night's Shield boilover.
Hawke's Bay continued their bright end to the season - they won six
of their last seven games - by scoring two tries in each half
tonight.
They were more clinical than the hosts, crossing through wing Jason
Kupa after just 90 seconds and prop Sona Taumalolo on the half
hour.
Outstanding loose forwards Karl Lowe and Thomas Waldrom bagged the
second-half tries, the latter coming with just nine minutes
remaining, heaping pressure on Waikato to repeat the dose.
The match ended on a fiery note, with Hawke's Bay reserve hooker
Ash Dixon and Northland prop Karl Haitana were both shown yellow
cards after a dust-up between the two packs.
It was another brave but fruitless performance from Northland, who
ended the season with five successive losses and just three wins
from 13 games.
They dominated first half possession, forcing the visitors into
wealth of tackles but paid for turnovers and had just two penalties
from fullback Lachie Munro to show when trailing 20-6 at the
break.
Munro also had the final say, landing a sideline conversion of his
own try on fulltime.
Northland's future in the Air NZ Cup elite is shaky, favoured to be
one of the four sides who are demoted when the competition
downsizes to 10 teams next year.
Large hoardings surrounding the half-built Okara Park made clear
what locals think of their possible axing, stating simply "Stop the
Drop!"
It may also be the final first class game for first five-eighth
David Holwell, the gutsy veteran having ventured out of retirement
for his team's last handful of matches this season.
Opposite number Matt Berquist kicked 12 points for Hawke's Bay,
giving him 156 for the season and moving him ahead of former
competition pointscoring leader Mike Delany of Bay of Plenty, who
compiled 149 before his All Blacks callup.
