Auckland still unbeaten

NPC SATURDAY WRAP: Auckland have clung onto their unbeaten record in 2018 with a nail-biting 31-30 victory over Taranaki in New Plymouth.

In Saturday’s other matches, Canterbury’s ruthlessness and finishing undid an Otago team 47-25 win at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin.

North Harbour co-captain James Parsons has marked his 100th game for the union with a 51-34 win, a brace of tries and a conversion against Hawke’s Bay at McLean Park.

Taranaki 30-31 Auckland

Taranaki came into the contest with their backs against the wall and needing a victory to lift themselves off the bottom of the Premiership ladder. It was always going to be a tough ask against a high-flying Auckland side but Taranaki had the chance to win with time up on the clock.

After stretching Auckland on defence and scoring out wide through replacement back Ciarhan Matoe in the 82nd minute, flyhalf Stephen Perofeta was tasked with landing the conversion from the corner to claim the victory.

It was Perofeta’s first shot at goal all night, and to make matters worse, a blustery wind had caused the two regular kickers trouble all night.

Perofeta’s attempt at goal just glanced away from the uprights but he was granted a second shot at goal due to Auckland rushing off the line early.

In a scene reminiscent to Aaron Cruden for the All Blacks against Ireland in 2013, Perofeta lined up the match-winning goal for a second time. But unlike Cruden in 2013, Perofeta’s second shot at goal shanked right and Auckland had the one-point win.

The victory catapulted Auckland back to the top of the Premiership ladder, while Taranaki picked up what could end up being a crucial two bonus points. The Bulls are still bottom of the Premiership on 12 points but lie just one point behind Counties Manukau, although the Steelers have a game in hand.

The game couldn’t have started in a worse fashion for Taranaki as they fumbled the ball at the kick off and Akira Ioane charged over the line with just 29 seconds down on the clock.

But Auckland were made to work a lot harder for their remaining tries as Taranaki steeled up on defence and spread the ball at any opportunity.

Stephen Perofeta had been missing from the Bulls line-up since the opening round due to injury but showed how much he had been missed by slicing through the Auckland defence in the 22nd minute to put the Bulls hot on attack. It was fitting that it was their other main attacking weapon who finished the movement when Tamanivalu plucked the ball from the ruck and beat two defenders down the short side to score.

Auckland had the final say in the first half when Akira Ioane and Jonathan Ruru linked down the blindside to give Auckland a 19-13 halftime lead.

There were more lead changes in the second half but a double to exciting wing Salesi Rayasi proved the difference as Auckland leapt to a 31-20 lead with just ten minutes remaining.

Taranaki showed great heart and enterprise to score two tries in the final ten minutes to claim two bonus points which may end up being vital to their chances of staying in the Premiership.

The scorers:

For Taranaki:
Tries: Seta Tamanivalu, Tom Florence, Mitch Crosswell, Ciarahn Matoe
Cons: Beaudein Waaka 2
Pens: Beaudein Waaka 2

For Auckland:
Tries: Akira Ioane, Tumua Manu, Salesi Rayasi 2, Jonathan Ruru
Cons: Harry Plummer 3

Otago 25-47 Canterbury

Having been in the game for three-quarters Otago conceded three tries in eight minutes heading into the last quarter that blew the score out and extended Canterbury’s run of wins over their southern neighbour to 13.

Otago played some fine running rugby without being able to enjoy reward on the scoreboard while Canterbury demonstrated their ruthlessness in taking advantages of their opportunities, in spite of their lack of possession and position.

But in one instance Otago provided a quality set-piece play that is likely to draw interest from tactical decision-makers further up the rugby scale. It came from a midfield scrum which saw the Otago outside backs clustered with blindside wing Jona Nareki appearing from the middle at speed to thread the defensive needle to open up a chance for fullback Michael Collins to score.

It was an example of the threat Otago could pose but Canterbury, who had been 14-6 ahead when Otago scored, demonstrated quality finishing.

In the first instance it was only two minutes into the game when from a line-out drive close to the Otago line, halfback Mitchell Drummond threw a long pass across his centres to fullback George Bridge running into the line, and a huge hole to score beneath the posts.

Then in the 13th minute, from a line-out turnover, centre Braydon Ennor threw a long pass to Bridge on the sideline. He had wing Josh McKay on the inside and when he was held in the tackle he flicked the ball outside to centre Phil Burleigh who had doubled around in support to run in for a try in the corner.

Unable to score points, in spite of several promising thrusts Otago were caught offside and Canterbury kicked to the corner, mounted a line-out drive for lock Mitch Dunshea to score after 28 minutes.

But probably the most frustrating of Otago’s concessions of ball was a two-man line-out called on their own line. Almost inevitably they lost the throw and lock Luke Romano carried it toward the line and from the ruck Drummond flung the ball wide for Josh McKay to score five minutes from the break.

Otago unleashed another scrum move eight minutes into the second half when from five metres out from Canterbury’s line, No.8 Dylan Nel, who had a fine game in the loose department, detached and fed halfback Kurt Hammer on the blindside, but instead of looking out, Hammer found Josh Ioane sprinting through inside and over for a try.

Yet again, Otago pressure was turned back by Canterbury. Having conceded a penalty which allowed Otago to kick to the corner to mount a drive, Romano wormed his way through the maul to get his hands on the ball and halfback Hammer. He tackled him, got over him and the Canterbury forwards came in on the counter ruck with play rolling downfield where in the Otago 22m Brett Cameron kicked across field to wing Caleb Makene who had just enough time to secure the ball to score in the tackle.

Then, a minute later, in the 59th minute, the ball was run back downfield from a failed clearing kick and with Bridge running onto the ball at speed he had Ennor with him, and the centre sold a dummy and ran in for the try that put the result beyond issue.

Five minutes later No.8 Reed Prinsep capped more good work by the pack to extend Otago’s pain by being driven over beneath the crossbar to score. There was time for a consolation try to Nareki a few moments from the end.

The scorers:

For Otago:
Tries: Michael Collins, Josh Ioane, Jona Nareki
Cons: Josh Ioane 2
Pens: Sio Tomkinson 2

For Canterbury: 
Tries: George Bridge, Phil Burleigh, Mitchell Dunshea, Josh McKay, Caleb Makene, Braydon Ennor, Reed Prinsep
Cons: Brett Cameron 6

Hawke’s Bay 34-51 North Harbour

The score was locked at 34-all with around 12 minutes to play, but the visitors, who scored seven tries to four, showed far more composure and accuracy in the clutch to move closer to the top four in the Premiership.

flyhalf Bryn Gatland led the way, slicing over for a late try and kicking six goals for 19 points. But he had plenty of assistance, notably from 31-year-old James Parsons, who latched onto the back of two line-out drives for his 18th and 19th tries for a union he first appeared for back in 2007, and fullback Shaun Stevenson, who scored one try with his footwork and set up one up for Matt Duffie with a perfectly weighted grubber.

Stevenson was not the only player wearing the No.15 jersey who had a fine game. His opposite, and official player of the day, Jamie-Jerry Taulagi, stepped with deadly effectiveness to score his try and slotted six from six off the tee for his 19 points. He is forming a potent Magpies back three with Jonah Lowe and Mason Emerson.

Hawke’s Bay seized the early initiative via a try to young hooker Kianu Kereru-Symes. Gareth Evans, Lowe and Lincoln McClutchie all helped to keep the home side’s nose in front at the break.

North Harbour No.8 Hapakuki Moala-Liava’a drove his side over the gain line, working off a tight five which had the edge.

When Taulagi’s thrust set up Brad Weber to sail between the uprights, the Magpies took a 34-29 lead into the final quarter. But the Harbour pack, Gatland and Tevita Li’s sixth try of the season, along with Magpies errors and several turnovers, meant there was only going to be one winner in the final analysis.

Parsons was given the honour of kicking the final conversion, and he did the job from a wideish angle.

Harbour coach Tom Coventry, who assisted with the Magpies in 2011, will have taken special satisfaction from his team’s strong finish.

Hawke’s Bay has a short turnaround, next facing Northland in Napier on Wednesday night. North Harbour travels to Taranaki next Saturday.

The scorers:

For Hawke’s Bay:
Tries: Kianu Kereru-Symes, Jonah Lowe, JJ Taulagi, Brad Weber
Cons: JJ Taulagi 4
Pens: JJ Taulagi 2

For North Harbour:
Tries: James Parsons 2, Matt Duffie, Shaun Stevenson, Tevita Li, Harrison Groundwater, Bryn Gatland
Cons: Bryn Gatland 4, James Parsons
Pens: Gatland 2

@Mitre10Cup