The signs right from the on-set were good for the Bay, right down to the small children-throwing handfuls of dirt at passing by Waikato supporters.  Not something the Mafia would endorse of course but will always point and laugh at.  A big crowd packed out the stadium though credit to Waikato they had their fair share of fans and annoying cowbells though try as they might they could never beat the loyal Bay fans for sheer volume. 

Not long after kickoff a Bay fan crash-tackled Mooloo on the stadium tracks in a copybook Nili Latu tackle. Mooloo’s head went flying revealing a rather disgruntled and angry man that tried to set after his assailant as fast as his ridiculous boots and furry out-fit could carry him.  Suffice to say it was a one-sided affair, the unknown tackler disappearing into the crowd before security could swoop.  Mooloo clearly upset then sulked back to the changing rooms and didn’t appear for the rest of the game, clearly Waikato farmers aren’t as hard as they used to be.  Confidence was high until some one remarked that the Bay hadn’t beaten Waikato in an NPC match since 1987, still we all know that history is never with the Bay (unless of course it’s the promotion relegation match against – Hawkes Bay, a region of rare sour grape growing ability).

The Bay had first use of the wind, and for the first few minutes didn’t make the best use of it, duffing the kick-off and letting Waikato swarm onto attack.  They even managed to get far enough to allow Hill’s custard boot get a penalty over.  That however was as good as it got for Waikato in the first half, the Bay ran rampant there-after.  On the back of some sound tactical kicking from Jackson and some infringing from Dirty scumbag Waikato Jacko soon levelled.  Not long there-after the crowd was given it’s first moment to really roar it’s approval when after a period of sustained pressure Rua Tipoki (who according to Waikato was most welcome to play for the Bay as he didn’t feature at all in Waikato’s NPC plans, after all why have Rua when you can have some fresh-faced young man that has difficulty catching the ball and tackling, long may Waikato’s selection genius continue. Besides, he's from Opotiki anyway!) grubbered a kick through for Anthony Tahana to continue his Ranfurly Shield try scoring streak (two) and dot the ball down inches before the dead ball line.  Full marks to Sosene Anesi  for his excellent positional play to help the Bay get their first try. 

Alas I must point out that we were at the far end of the ground, in fact at the end where no tries were scored, if my recollection of the scoring action is inaccurate I apologise but I’m doing my best to recall the toy soldier sized players actions from afar.

Waikato tried to come back but seemed intent on throwing the ball wide for the mere sake of throwing the ball wide with-out having the forward pack grunt to create any space.  Whenever the ball was spun wide there was no overlap and an abundance of Bay defenders swarming all over them.  Couch – a player that wouldn’t make any other Super 12 team aside from the Chiefs due only to their selection policy of picking bench players wearing yellow, red and black and by the way he’s a nice chap and Ian Forster’s love-child was second to every ruck behind Latu and was on occasion’s out sprinted by Simms Davidson and Aleki Lutui.  Waikato seemed short of ideas and when their scrum was marched off it’s own ball seemed short of talent all round.

The Bay then scored again from a Waikato turn-over, Cashmore hitting the line hard from a brilliant Tipoki flick pass and it seemed that Tipoki was figuring more in Waikato’s NPC plans than what he was ever intended to.  Cashmore still had work to do before he made the line but did it well, going over the line in the last tackle.  Jackson again converted and on top of another penalty had a handy 20-3 lead going into the break.

About now I recall saying that “It doesn’t look like a 17 point wind”.  Alas I was wrong, with Waikato scoring 17 points on the dot in the second half.  Very early on it became apparent that the wind was a much bigger factor than we had thought with Jackson’s kicks struggling to make ground and making it difficult for the Bay to get field position. Waikato to their credit played a much better second half, though it must be mentioned that Hill’s tactical kicking game suspiciously mirrored that Jackson used in the first half.  Waikato struck back early in the second half with a try to Bates after a period of sustained line-out and drive pressure from Waikato.  Thankfully this seemed to be Waikato’s only attacking weapon, their backs looking clueless on attack with no space to work in and doing little against the wall of blue and gold in front of them.

A crucial turning point came in the second half when Jackson latched onto another intercept pass (which if he continues to keep this up it will become Ranfurly Shield folklore) the Bay had a massive overlap and if it wasn’t for the blatant off-side play by Bates would have gone in and sealed the game.  As it was Bates was deservedly sent off for 10 minutes and the Bay goaled another penalty to take a 26-13 lead. 

Once again it looked like us Bay fans were in for a tough few final minutes nervously looking at the clock and wishing it would go faster.  This wasn’t made any better when Sivivatu snuck himself into a maul probably figuring that he wanted to get his hands on the ball at least once during the game and scored a somewhat questionable try.  The video ref possibly confused by the clanging of cowbells in his head, or perhaps even rocks.  The score evened out to 26-20 and it looked like a tough final 5 minutes, especially with the bay down to 14 men after Castle being sent off for repeatedly taking down the maul.  The Bay however held their composure and the ball, Waikato lost theirs conceding a number of penalties letting the Bay get crucial field position and to while away time with repeated kicks to touch and ambling to the line-out – which they won and slowly worked up field, to be given another penalty, resulting in another kick to touch and a slow amble to the line-out. 

It was good to see the Bay not crack under pressure, it was especially good to hear the crowd get in behind the Bay and the players respond especially in what must have been a lung burning last 10 minutes.  It was even better to see a good old-fashioned pitch invasion once the final whistle went.  The thronging crowds on Blue Chip stadium field testament to how much the Shield meant to the fans and how grateful they were to the players.  Perhaps Red Badge security could take a lesson from this and actually let people onto their precious field.  After all several hundred fans went onto the field at Blue Chip stadium and as far as I know all the player made it off with-out being torn from limb to limb and neither were the advertising hoardings ripped off their stands and burned in the middle of the pitch. 

Again the Mafia is victorious, the Bay keeps their unbeaten record at the Mount and more importantly the Shield for another 2 weeks, and long may that be so.  Another mighty effort from the Bay, proving the “experts” wrong and doing us proud, once again putting the Bay on the headlines in the NPC both here and abroad.  Go the mighty Bay of Plenty Steamers!!