NPC review: Auckland fall far
WEEK SEVEN WRAP AND VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS: Auckland’s upset loss to Otago in the National Provincial Championship crossover game has seen Tasman and Canterbury move ahead of it on the Premiership points table.
Otago at least had the securing of a top four place in the Championship being 10 points clear of the nearest challenge, and with a chance of moving further up the ladder yet.
We recap all the Week Seven games!
Hawke’s Bay 55 Northland 41
Turning on plenty of running rugby both sides battled for the final advantage and Northland, after scoring 38 first half points are probably still wondering how this one got away. Hawke’s Bay hadn’t done too badly either as they scored 24 first-half points.
Ironically, in such a free-running game, Hawke’s Bay turned to their line-out drive and sharpened defence to deny Northland and finish with nine tries.
Scorers:
For Hawke’s Bay
Tries: Gareth Evans, Stacy Ili 2, Marino Mikaele-Tu’u, Pasqualle Dunn 2, Ben Power 2
Cons: JJ Taulagi try, 3 con, Brad Weber 2
For Northland:
Tries: Jaycob Matiu, Matty Wright 2, Jordan Hyland, Rene Ranger
Cons: Jack Debreczeni 5
Pens: Debreczeni 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxP0jAnuVtE
Bay of Plenty 15 Manawatu 17
Determined Manawatu defence denied Bay of Plenty the platform they needed. It took Bay of Plenty 66 minutes to score their first try.
They had the wood on Manawatu up front but were inaccurate in many aspects of their game and with Otere Black calling the shots with aplomb, the Bay were kept on the back foot.
It didn’t help that they were seven points down within 50 seconds of the game starting courtesy of a brilliant solo try to halfback Jamie Booth.
The scorers:
For Bay of Plenty:
Tries: Aaron Carroll, Luke Campbell
Con: Kaleb Trask
Pen: Jason Robertson
For Manawatu
Tries: Jamie Booth, Sam Malcolm
Cons: Otere Black 2
Pen: Otere Black
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpTAhM0_fIM
Auckland 26 Otago 31
There were signs in Auckland’s one-point win over Taranaki that things might not be going all that well, and Otago highlighted that when claiming a rare win on Eden Park.
Matt Faddes enjoyed the occasion with a hat-trick of tries.
It wasn’t all bad news for Auckland as they claimed two bonus points and they went close to scoring during an extended period of injury time at the end of the game, but this time there was no escape route as Otago maintained the solid defence which had been so handy all game.
The scorers:
For Auckland:
Tries: Tumua Manu 2, Dalton Papalii, Akira Ioane
Cons: Harry Plummer 3
For Otago:
Tries: Vilmoni Koroi, Jona Nareki, Matt Faddes 3
Cons: Josh Ioane 3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvNEWjB7hww
Waikato 42 Southland 11
Southland were in the hunt when 11-14 down at halftime in the Ranfurly Shield challenge against Waikato, but the home side’s ability to create chances, while contained in the first half, burst forth in the second and they ran in 28 points without answer.
Waikato moved to the head of the Championship with the win, going five points clear of Hawke’s Bay while Southland continue to search for their first win.
Scorers
For Waikato
Tries: Samisoni Taukei’aho 2, Dwayne Sweeney, Sevu Reece, Murray Iti, Toby Smith
Cons: Fletcher Smith 6
For Southland
Try: Tauasosi Tuimavave
Pens: James Wilson 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fs4WkZo2u0A
Taranaki 26 North Harbour 55
Tevita Li’s four try haul not only rocketed him to the top of the individual try scoring list but underlined a dominant North Harbour display over a lacklustre Taranaki side which paid the price for inaccuracies.
Flyhalf Bryn Gatland was subtle in his choices while there was a more haphazard look about Taranaki until late in the game when they strung moves together but it was all too late to have any impact on the scoreboard.
Scorers:
For Taranaki
Tries: Regan Ware, Manasa Mataele, Beaudein Waaka, Jesse Parate
Cons: Waaka 3
For North Harbour
Tries: Tevita Li 4, Matt Duffie, Daniel Hilton Jones, Dillon Hunt 2, Mark Telea
Cons: Bryn Gatland 5
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8fuw6QfdtQ
Wellington 22 Tasman 28
Utilising their superior quality in set plays Tasman put a stop on Wellington’s march this season.
They were up 23-10 at one stage and kept far enough in front to deny the home side when they mounted their inevitable late challenge.
The burgeoning liaison between halfback Finlay Christie and first five-eighths Mitchell Hunt is proving decisive and complements the strength they enjoy up front.
Scorers
For Tasman
Tries: Finlay Christie, Solomon Alaimalo, Jacob Norris, John Akau’ola-Laula
Con: Mitch Hunt
Pens: Hunt 2
For Wellington
Tries: Xavier Numia, Galu Taufale, Thomas Umaga-Jensen
Cons: Jackson Garden-Bachop 2
Pen: Garden-Bachop
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5s20xFYALxU
Canterbury 49 Hawke’s Bay 24
Canterbury continued their recovery from their loss to Auckland and proved too strong for Hawke’s Bay.
They were forced to work hard after being held to 21-17 at the half, but their combination struck in the second half and they cleared out to achieve a comfortable win, in scoring seven tries to three. They moved back into second place with the win.
The scorers:
For Canterbury:
Tries: Braydon Ennor 2, Alex Hodgman, Mitch Drummond, George Bridge, Tom Christie, Connor Garden-Bachop
Cons: Brett Cameron 7
For Hawke’s Bay
Tries: Sasa Tofilau, Michael Buckley, Folau Fakatava
Cons: JJ Taulagi 3
Pen: Taulagi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_eYfdnXv0Q
Counties Manukau 20 Northland 24
Northland made up for their earlier loss in the round by showing great stamina to hold off a typically fast-finishing Northland team to claim a valuable win in Pukekohe.
Rene Ranger was a key figure in the Northland backline putting his experience and skill to use throughout while his effort to deny a late Counties Manukau try was a typical piece of opportunism.
Scorers:
For Counties Manukau
Tries: Sione Molia, Fotu Lokotui
Con: Luteru Lauala
Pen: Lauala
For Northland
Tries: Jono Kitto, Jost Goodhue, Jordan Hyland
Cons: Jack Debreczeny 3
Pen: Debreczeny
Source: @Mitre10Cup
