Taranaki second on competition ladder

Above photo: Taranaki wing Jackson Ormond was scratched minutes before kick off in the Manawatu match on Saturday night. 

Taranaki has picked up their fifth win from seven matches in the national provincial championship beating Manawatu 30-19 in wet conditions in New Plymouth.  

Five competition points were also picked up as Taranaki ran in four tries to one and sit in second place on the table with 25 points, one behind Canterbury in first and one head of Counties Manukau in third.

Both teams had to work hard as rain fell throughout the duration of the game viewed by a strong crowd considering the conditions.  

Taranaki had a minor set back before kick off as Berny Hall was ruled out due to concussion and Jackson Ormond was also scratched. That meant Lachlan Boshier started, Taranaki Development player Adrian Wyrill moved onto the bench in the loose forward stocks and Marty McKenzie took over the captaincy. Sean Wainui was in turn moved onto the bench after being left out of the playing 23.    

The visitors were hot off the back of a win over Canterbury last weekend but were left outscored two tries to one in the opening 40 minutes of play but had a 15-16 lead at the break.

11 first half points were scored off the boot of Otere Black with a try to Ambrose Curtis in the corner which gave the Turbos the lead.  

In the first half, Taranaki’s Reuben O’Neill scored as the home side picked away at the Manawatu line and Kylem O’Donnell darted around the blindside of a maul to score untouched. The rest of the points came from Marty McKenzie.  

Taranaki had the first say of the second half with a try in the corner to Latu Vaeno who stepped on the inside and scored. But the work came from the breakdown as Bosher turned over Manawatu ball by taking up space, which was perfect technique under the trial laws, to stretch the Manawatu defence.  

The homeside scored one more try in the second half with Rhys Marshall able to control the ball at the back of a maul to dot down. McKenzie then slotted the rest of the points of Taranaki.

Manawatu were denied a bonus point try as captain Callum Gibbons stretched out to score at the base of the posts, but referee Brett Johnson ruled a knock on occurred and blew time for the game.  

The Turbos sit third in the championship and Taranaki will have a week to prepare to take on Canterbury in the top of the table clash.  

Taranaki 30 (Reuben O'Neill, Kylem O'Donnell, Latu Vaeno, Rhys Marshall tries; Marty McKenzie 2 cons, 2 pens)
Manawatu 19 (Ambrose Curtis try; Otere Black 4 pens, con)
HT: 15-16