Northland pip Bulls in opening round

Grant Hassall 

Photo by: LDV Photography

A depleted Yarrows Taranaki Bulls side almost got out of jail in its opening Bunnings NPC clash against Northland at Pukekura Park, New Plymouth, on Sunday afternoon.

But in the end, it was honour to the visitors, with the Taniwha deservedly winning the match 13-11.

The high hopes of many in the province came crashing down in a similar way to the number of Taranaki players who fell down with injuries.

Prior to the match, Matt McKenzie was ruled out, with Brayton Northcott-Hill brought into the starting XV and 36-year-old Paul Perez, who last played for Taranaki in 2009, drafted into the reserves. The injury list was already extensive with Teihorangi Walden, Kini Naholo and Vereniki Tikoisolomona all out.

Unfortunately for the amber-and-blacks, those troubles continued throughout the match.

Fellow backs Jacob Ratumaiavuki-Kneepkens, Daniel Rona and Daniel Waite all exited early with injuries. Taranaki’s attack as a result was significantly disjointed.

But there was no denying the Northland pack, even minus Tom Robinson, that took it to a Taranaki eight which will clearly miss Michael Bent this year.

After a yawning opening quarter, Taraanki opened the scoring with an excellent backline shift, instigated by Jayson Potroz. He found Waite who skilfully beat the Northland defenders.

In a sign of things to come, Potroz – returning after his own injury break of three weeks – misfired the conversion and a penalty attempt soon after.

Taranaki were coming in fits and starts, as somewhat to be expected in the season’s opener – acknowledging a shorter, far from ideal preparation – but there was no extended pressure that could be put on Northland. That was due to Northland ripping it into the forwards and Taranaki struggling for any continuity.

A penalty to Waite after the halftime hooter gave Taranaki an inflated 8-0 lead at the break.

That should have been enough to inspire Taranaki to thank their lucky stars.

But rather it was Rivez Reihana put Northland on the board 15m into the second half, although Waite reinstated the eight-point advantage when Taranaki was awarded a soft penalty from the restart.

While Taranaki did well to hold on for the next 10 minutes, replacement Dan Hawkins successfully placed a penalty to make it 11-6 with 11 minutes to go.

It was ascendancy Northland. They camped inside Taranaki’s 22. Taranaki’s defence cricked but held, until Hempo Cunningham was given a yellow card. Soon after Jone Macilai scored and Hawkins, with a superb effort, converted from wide out.

At last Taranaki found some life. And a penalty on fulltime, 28m out dead in front of the Northland posts, gave Taranaki a rare get-out-of-jail card opportunity. But Potroz’s kick was astray.

Taranaki will point to its injuries and lack of preparation time. They were certainly factors in the demise. But the confidence of 2021 needs to quickly be found with Bay of Plenty sitting in wait in seven days time.