The Hawke’s Bay Magpies’ Bunnings NPC season came to a close on Saturday after a gripping match against the Bay of Plenty Steamers, who secured a 19-17 victory at Tauranga Domain.
The Steamers, determined to avoid last season’s disappointment, started strong, applying pressure that left the Magpies struggling to clear their half. In the 8th minute, after sustained play inside the Magpies’ 22, Bay of Plenty capitalized on a misplaced kick. Harry Godfrey was caught off guard, allowing the Steamers to seize possession. Leroy Carter found a gap in the defense, scoring the first try.
Despite the pressure from the home side, the Magpies’ defense held firm. However, they struck back against the run of play after a scrum. Hugh Renton powered the ball up to the 10-meter line before a quick pass found Godfrey, who used his footwork to score and level the match at 7-7.
The first half remained intense, with Bay of Plenty unable to convert their dominance into points. Discipline issues allowed the Magpies to earn a lineout deep in Steamers territory. A strong maul enabled Tyrone Thompson to break away and score in the corner, putting the visitors ahead 12-7 at halftime.
The Steamers came out strong in the second half. After the Magpies inched offside, the home team set a lineout 5 meters from the goal. They looked dominant, but Joel Hintz was penalized for illegally pulling down the maul, resulting in a penalty try and a yellow card for himself, shifting momentum in favor of the Steamers.
Although the Magpies spent much of the second half in the Steamers’ territory, they struggled to capitalize on their chances. A potential try was disallowed in the 61st minute due to a double movement by Renton. However, ten minutes later, Jacob Devery scored from a lineout drive, putting the Magpies ahead 17-14.
In the final minutes, the Magpies aimed to hold their lead. After winning a scrum, they opted to kick the ball back to the Steamers. Bay of Plenty seized the opportunity to attack, gaining ground before the Magpies committed an offside penalty at the 10-meter line.
From there, the Steamers set up another lineout and powered over the line, with Taine Kolose scoring the decisive try that secured the victory for Bay of Plenty.
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