Otago end 35-year wait for victory
Otago won in Auckland for the first time in 35 years to claim the Lin Colling Memorial Trophy following their 32-25 triumph.
The victory came thanks to some brilliance from try-scoring flank TJ Ioane in particular, as the side scored three tries in only nine minutes to lead 32-18 after a 62nd minute try from flying wing Buxton Popoali’i.
The result will come as a shock to Auckland, who had lead 15-9 at half time thanks to a brace of tries by classy All Blacks wing Joe Rokocoko.
In the other match on Wednesday Counties Manukau defeated Manawatu thanks in large part to the accurate goal-kicking of flyhalf James Semple.
Semple scored 22 of the team’s points in the match in a near perfect display, as he punished Manawatu whenever they gave him an opportunity to have a shot at goal.
Tries from Sherwin Stowers and Reynold Lee-Lo capped off the impressive performance from Counties, while Manawatu pivot Aaron Cruden will be disappointed that he didn’t capitalise on his opportunity to send a positive message to the All Black selectors.
Scores and scorers for the Wednesday NPC games:
Auckland 25-32 Otago
The scorers:
For Auckland
Tries: Rokocoko 2, Manu
Cons: Anscombe 2
Pens: Anscombe 2
For Otago
Tries: Ioane, Dickson, Popoali’i
Cons: Dickson
Pens: Dickson 5
Teams:
Auckland: 15 Hadleigh Parkes, 14 Joe Rokocoko, 13 Teddy Stanaway, 12 Winston Stanley, 11 Viliame Waqaseduadua, 10 Gareth Anscombe, 9 Toby Morland, 8 Chris Lowery, 7 Daniel Braid (captain), 6 Sean Polwart, 5 Josh Townsend, 4 Richard Haddon, 3 Angus Ta’avao, 2 Ash Dixon, 1 Tevita Mailau.
Replacements: 16 Tom McCartney, 17 Pauliasi Manu, 18 Nathan Hughes, 19 Onosai’i Auva’a, 20 Auvasa Faleali’i, 21 Piers Francis, 22 George Moala, 23 Charlie Faumuina.
Otago: 15 Glenn Dickson, 14 Joe Hill, 13 Ben Atiga, 12 Sam Giddens, 11 Buxton Popoali’i, 10 Tony Brown, 9 Sean Romans, 8 Gareth Evans, 7 Eben Joubert (captain), 6 Regan Tamihere, 5 Tom Donnelly, 4 Daniel Ramsay, 3 Kees Meeuws, 2 Liam Coltman, 1 Halani Aulika.
Replacements: 16 Peter Mirrielees, 17 James McGougan, 18 Rob Verbakel, 19 TJ Ioane, 20 Johnny Legg, 21 Jayden Spence, 22 Hayden Parker, 23 Scott Manson.
Referee: Garratt Williamson
Counties Manukau 32-25 Manawatu
The scorers:
For Counties Manukau
Tries: Stowers, Lee-Lo
Cons: Semple 2
Pens: Semple 6
For Manawatu
Tries: Fitzgerald, Tikoirotuma, Marshall
Cons: Cruden 2
Pen: Cruden 2
Teams:
Counties-Manukau: 15 Sherwin Stowers, 14 Tyrone Lefau, 13 Siale Piutau, 12 Reynold Lee-Lo, 11 Bundee Aki, 10 James Semple, 9 Samisoni Fisilau, 8 Fritz Lee, 7 DJ Forbes, 6 Adam Cathcart, 5 Jamie Chipman (captain), 4 Chris McLaren, 3 Matt Talaese, 2 Mark Price, 1 Simon Lemalu.
Replacements: 16 Grant Henson, 17 Ihipa Thompson, 18 Ronald Raaymakers, 19 Sikeli Nabou, 20 August Pulu, 21 Niva Ta’auso, 22 Ahsee Tuala, 23 Maka Tatafu.
Manawatu: 15 Nehe Milne-Skudder, 14 Asaeli Tikoirotuma, 13 Lewis Marshall, 12 Johnny Leota, 11 Junior Tomasi Cama, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 James Oliver, 7 Doug Tietjens, 6 Nick Crosswell (captain), 5 Michael Fitzgerald, 4 Fraser Stone, 3 Ma’afu Fia, 2 Rob Foreman, 1 Grant Polson.
Replacements: 16 Bryn Templeman, 17 Peni Kaufusi, 18 Reece Robinson, 19 Hamish Gosling, 20 Karl Bryson, 21 Daniel Kelly, 22 Craig Clare, 23 David Te Moana.
Referee: Sheldon Eden-Whaitiri
