Rugby: Taranaki secure late try to overcome Waikato

NZ Sports Wire

Photo: Josh Jacomb scored a late try to clinch a dramatic win for Taranaki on Sunday. Photo by: John Velvin.

Taranaki have won their third straight match in the National Provincial Championship (NPC), perhaps fortuitously.

A 79th-minute try from first-five Josh Jacomb lifted the Bulls to a 25-19 victory over Waikato at New Plymouth's Yarrow's Stadium on Sunday but the post-match attention was on two passes in the lead-up.

Down 19-18 and attacking from their own end, a pass from reserve back Jason Potroz to put wing Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens through a gap appeared to travel forward. Following the ensuing ruck, halfback Adam Lennox was sent away down the right flank with a pass that was a line-ball at best.

Lennox evaded a Waikato defender, linked up with second-five Daniel Rona, who passed in-field to Jacomb, who had missed a go-ahead penalty minutes earlier, to scamper 30m for the match-winner to claim the Ryan Wheeler Memorial Trophy.

Up until that point, Jacomb may have been on the hook for the loss, having missed three first-half conversions and two second-half penalties, which could have already had the Bulls out of reach.

Earlier, the defending NPC champions had stormed out to a 15-0 lead after 15 minutes, with tries to wing Verekini Tikoisolomone and a double from Rona, the second coming from a 45m intercept jog.

Waikato hit back before halftime through wing Tepaea Cook-Savage, and after Jacomb extended Taranaki's lead to 11 with 46th-minute penalty, No 8 Patrick McCurran and wing Gideon Wrampling scored to put the Mooloos up.

In Round 6, Taranaki travel to Tauranga to face Bay of Plenty on Saturday (kick-off 2.05pm).

Meanwhile, the Taranaki Whio lost their fifth straight game in the Farah Palmer Cup against Tasman 36-39.

However, there were promising signs for Taranaki as they led 19-5 at halftime but let through several tries to then trail 39-19.

Taranaki stormed back but scored when time was virtually up.

It was the Whio’s last game of the season.

Taranaki 25 (Vereniki Tikoisolomone, Daniel Rona 2, Josh Jacomb tries; Josh Jacomb con, pen) Waikato 19 (Tepaea Cook-Savage, Patrick McCurran, Gideon Wrampling tries; Aaron Cruden con, D'Angelo Leuila con). HT: 15-7