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Fiona Goodall/Getty Images
Justin Sangster celebrates the try of Manaaki Selby-Rickit (4) with Richard Judd (9).
At Northland Events Centre, Whangarei: Bay of Plenty 32 (Kurt Eklund, Manaaki Selby-Rickit, Fehi Fineanganofo, Josh Bartlett tries; Wharenui Hawera 3 con, 2 pen) Northland 26 (Tamati Tua, Heremaia Murray tries; Rivez Reihana 2 con, 3 pen, Daniel Hawkins 1 pen) HT: 18-16.
Sin bin: Jonah Mau’u (18th min)
A late try from substitute loosehead prop Josh Bartlett has given Bay of Plenty’s national provincial championship quarterfinal hopes a monumental boost with a 32-26 win over Northland.
Needing a win to keep their season alive, Northland took it to the visitors and found themselves in the lead with just a handful of minutes to play before Bay of Plenty finally got the job done.
Bartlett’s try wasn’t just critical for the win, but it was also the bonus point try that could prove critical in where Bay of Plenty ends up with just two more matches left in their regular season.
Northland’s season will end against Auckland next Friday but Bay of Plenty is just one leg down in their storm week.
In the first of three games in nine days, Northland didn’t do Bay of Plenty any favours with a bruising and frustrating encounter.
Fiona Goodall/Getty Images
Northland players rush to congratulate Heremaia Murray (left) after he scored one of the tries of the NPC season.
Northland’s performance was far from perfect but in their final home match of the season, they gave their home crowd a contest and an effort to be proud of.
The NPC’s leading try scorer Heremaia Murray also provided the home fans with one of the tries of the tries of the season that went 90 metres and featured an audacious grubber from Rivez Reihana that was collected by Murray who kicked again, got the bounce as two Bay defenders took themselves out, and sprinted away to score.
Northland centre Tamati Tua scored the game’s opening try in controversial fashion. Referee Michael Winter sent it upstairs to make sure Tua didn’t touch the sideline, which was clear, but the replay appeared to be 50-50 on whether he had maintained control of the ball.
On the back of Northland No. 8 Jonah Mau’u being sent to the bin, Bay of Plenty scored their first try, hooker Kurt Eklund the benefactor from a maul.
Bay of Plenty was forced into a reshuffle 10 minutes before halftime when they lost first-five Lucas Cashmore with a shoulder injury with fullback Wharenui Hawera moving into the No. 10 role. But they hit the front for the first time a couple of minutes later with lock Manaaki Selby-Rickit plucking the ball out of a ruck and going straight through the middle before dashing 15 metres to score.
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Heremaia Murray stretches for the bouncing ball before scoring a try of the season contender.
An exchange of penalties meant the Bay held an 18-16 lead at the break following a first half dominated by kicking in general play and a strong Bay of Plenty scrum.
Murray’s try, the first of the second half, ignited the contest but Fehi Fineanganofo hit back almost immediately for Bay of Plenty, with a blockbusting 50 metre dash, even if the home was unhappy with a questionable pass.
A Daniel Hawkins penalty inside the final 10 minutes put Northland back in front before Bartlett’s late try gave Bay of Plenty the hard-fought victory.
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