Manawatu Win ITM Cup Championship, Promoted to Premiership
It took a last-minute try to seal the deal as Manawatu won their first major provincial rugby trophy since 1980, winning the ITM Cup Championship division with a 32-24 win over Hawke's Bay.
Hawke's Bay controlled possession in the final minutes. Trailing by three points, they hammered away at a relentless Manawatu defence. A poorly executed attacking kick, that was never on, eventually ended their hopes, as Manawatu winger Nathan Tudreu collected the ball that was rocketed at him and set off to score a length-of-the-field try.
It was a tense finish to what was all round a very tense match.
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The packed stadium was in full voice, as the two rivals continually took shots at each other, with the game remaining in the balance the whole way through. A strong wind blew up the ground, although neither team seemed inclined to use it, preferring to keep ball in hand for the most part.
Despite this, the play did tend to run with the direction of the wind. Hawke's Bay had it at their back in the first half and scored two outstanding tries, as the Manawatu defence faltered. The first came from an incisive run from fly-half Ihaia West, who spotted the gap and drifted right as he beat several defenders on the way to securing the first try of the game.
The second was just as impressive, another effort that came from exploiting the weak defence and once again showed the finishing ability of Shannon Chase.
It was Manawatu that seemed to have the edge up front though and this was always going to tell. The Turbos were physical at the breakdown and were able to force Hawkes Bay into conceding a series of what were essentially frustration penalties in this area.
They were unable to make them count though and the Hawkes Bay defence held to maintain a 14-6 lead at the break.
Midway through the second half, Manawatu finally took the lead, as Nehe Milner-Skudder ran a good line to shrug off a weak tackle from Shannon Chase. Milner-Skudder carried on to score.
Hawke's Bay hit back, but a passage of sustained pressure from Manawatu eventually told and they made use of an overlap to take them to a 27-24 lead. It was a lead they would not relinquish.
The win sees Manawatu promoted to the Premiership division, where they will have the opportunity to compete for New Zealand provincial rugby's top prize.
It has been a long time coming for Manawatu. They were one of the Unions most badly affected by the advent of Super Rugby, which lured their top players from their province to those where the professional franchise's were based.
After their failed bid to make it back into the NPC First Division, in a combined effort with Hawke's Bay, they spend a decade in Second Division and never really looked like being promoted. Since the new 14-team format has been adopted, they have generally been nearer the bottom of the heap, with the obvious exception of their Championship final loss in 2011.
It was not always like this though. There was a time when Manawatu, like so many of the other smaller Unions, were as tough a match as you would find. In 1980 they won the NPC's First Division. This was a team which had eight All Blacks, including Gary Knight, Mark Shaw and Frank Oliver.
While the 2014 win rates more as an equivalent to winning the old Second Division, it still must be celebrated. Few would have given Manawatu a chance of winning prior to the season and now they find themselves back amongst the big boys of New Zealand rugby.
They continue to produce outstanding players. The two Aaron's, Smith and Cruden, remain the best of their current crop of players, being the province's two All Blacks. However, with talents youngsters such as Otere Black, Jason Emery, Nehe Milner-Skudder and Jamie Booth coming through the ranks, they might yet add to that tally.
Along with this group they have a hard-working group of forwards. Captain Callum Gibbons in particular having a standout season, while Rob Foreman, Nick Crosswell and Ma'afu Fia all bleed green and white.
The competition's attention now turns to the Premiership, where Taranaki host Tasman in what will be an historic final tomorrow night in New Plymouth.
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