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New Zealand NPC

Auckland back on track

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 14:46

Auckland overcame another lacklustre first-half performance to defeat Taranaki 27-13 in their NPC match at Eden Park on Sunday.

Auckland's fourth win of the season, and their fifth consecutive victory over Taranaki, moves them into fifth spot on the table and just one point adrift of fourth placed Counties-Manukau after six rounds.

It was hardly a mesmerising first half of rugby as both sides failed to conjure up any real attacking opportunities or momentum, Matt Berquist landing two penalty goals to give Auckland a narrow 6-3 lead at the break.

But livewire wing Atieli Pakalani finally sparked his side into action, scoring a scintillating try a minute into the second half to breathe some much needed life into the game.

Auckland's new lease off life seemed to rub off on Taranaki who also stepped things up a gear in the second half and hit back.

Auckland head coach Mark Anscombe was as ever very forthright in his appraisal of his team's performance.

"I thought the first half by both teams was pretty average, it was a bore-fest to be honest and I'm sure people were thinking about leaving," Anscombe said.

"But at least the second half was better. There were still some mistakes but there was a lot more purpose. What we weren't doing in the first half was that our set piece wasn't allowing us the right type of possession to build phases and put any pressure on them," he said.

Coming off a horror 16-35 defeat to Canterbury last week, Anscombe gave his younger troops a chance to impress and they did not let him down.

* Otago overcame the elements and their own self-doubts to gain their first win of the season, beating Hawke's Bay 17-16 in a cliff-hanger at Carisbrook on Sunday.

Otago, who led 17-3 just after half-time, held on to win by one point after a committed performance by the forwards.

Alando Soakai led a fired-up forward pack in which Kees Meeuws, Halani Aulika, Brad Cameron and Charlie O'Connell all had strong games.

* On Saturday, Southland's unbeaten run has come to an end, as they ran into a motivated Northland in Whangarei.

Devastating attack and doughty defence enabled the Taniwha to upset the Stags in their NPC showdown.

It was a contest between the Northland backs and the Southland forwards, the Northland backs carrying the day.

Rene Ranger and Jared Payne were in devastating form, while David Holwell provided the solidity and Lachie Munro had another fine game at fullback.

The props, Jamie Mackintosh and Chris King, scored Southland's three tries between them, but the Stags were caught betwixt and between with their game plan, unsure whether to attack Northland through the forwards or to play a wide game.

Northland took the maximum five points from the match, but Southland went unrewarded. At least the Ranfurly Shield was not up for grabs and remains firmly in Southland hands - with the Stags having slipped to second on the standings.

* In other Saturday action, Manawatu got their first win of the season, taking the prized scalp of Wellington in a thrilling game in Palmerston North.

The Turbos outplayed the Lions from the opening whistle and fully deserved their 36-24 win in front of their bucket-wearing faithful.

Both teams scored four tries apiece with the sides claiming their bonus points in a frantic final few minutes as Wellington pushed hard for another last-gasp comeback.

* Depth of resources and superior, and consistent, pace onto the ball allowed Waikato to overpower North Harbour 36-27 in a thrilling encounter in Albany on Saturday.

Waikato were unable to shake a tenacious home team until the final quarter of the game, a stage at which it was able to get to its superior bench to maintain what had been a hectic pace throughout the game.

* On Friday, high-profile rugby league convert Sonny Bill Williams celebrated his debut match in the NPC with a win, as Canterbury proved too strong for Bay of Plenty.

Canterbury recorded a comfortable 28-9 victory in Christchurch.

Williams made an early entrance when inside centre Ryan Crotty left the field in the 18th minute with an ankle injury.

The former NRL star made a number of deft touches, off-loading at will and making a couple of half-breaks. A try-saving tackle on his own line on Lelia Masaga was probably his best moment of his debut match.

The Red and Blacks were scratchy in the first spell as the game lacked any fluidity, but clicked into the gear in the second half, running in three tries to none and holding the visitors scoreless in the second half.

Canterbury has a number of injury concerns coming out of the game with Crotty's ankle issue and a shoulder worry for wing Tu Umaga-Marshall the most serious.

* On Thursday, Counties Manukau overcame last week's disappointing loss to Waikato, to beat Tasman 23-3 at Growers Stadium in Pukekohe.

Wet conditions made things difficult for the backs, but Counties fullback Tim Nanai Williams and wings Sherwin Stowers and Ahsee Tuala showed just how dangerous they can be on any surface.

Veteran centre Tana Umaga turned back the clock and produced some slick touches to some the overall class of the former All Black captain.

Tasman were their own worst enemies at time, giving away penalties at the breakdown and far too many handling errors. Their woes were compounded when an attack was launches in the dying moments of the match, but ended with a knock-on as Tasman entered the Counties half.

Round Six scores and scorers:

Auckland 27-13 Taranaki

The scorers:

For Auckland:
Tries: Pakalani, Stanley
Con: Berquist
Pens: Berquist 5

For Taranaki:
Try: Vunisa
Con: Ripia
Pens: Ripia 2

Otago 17-16 Hawke's Bay

For Otago:
Tries: Soakai, Meeuws
Cons: Dickson 2
Pen: Dickson

For Hawke's Bay:
Try: Elliot
Con: Kirkpatrick
Pens: Kirkpatrick 2, Jackman

Northland 33-22 Southland

The scorers:

For Northland:
Tries: Ranger, Pryor, Payne, 2
Cons: Munro 3
Pens: Munro 2

For Southland:
Tries: King, Mackintosh 2
Cons: Robinson 2
Pen: Robinson

Manawatu 36-24 Wellington

The scorers:

For Manawatu:
Tries: Paku, Parkes, Stone, Tikoirotuma
Cons: Thompson, Clare
Pens: Thompson 4

For Wellington:
Tries: Mailata 2, Leiua, Savea
Cons: Fili 2

North Harbour 27-36 Waikato

The scorers:

For North Harbour:
Tries: Afeaki, Fatafehi, Parsons
Cons: Harris 3
Pens: Harris 2

For Waikato:
Tries: Leonard, Sweeney, Lealiifano, Waqaniburotu
Cons: Renata 2
Pens: Renata 4

Canterbury 28-9 Bay of Plenty

The scorers:

For Canterbury:
Tries: Manu, Todd, Fruean
Cons: Brett 2
Pens: Brett 3

For Bay of Plenty:
Pens: Delany 3

Counties Manukau 23-3 Tasman

For Tasman:
Pen: Steve Alfeld

* For all the Week Six teams, CLICK HERE!