|
Written by Mr BMR789
|
|
Sunday, 02 August 2009 |
|
Hawke's Bay ended 35 years without success against Auckland to get its Air New Zealand Cup campaign off to a perfect bonus point winning 47-13 start at McLean Park in Napier.
The win was a continuation of Hawke's Bay's advance up the domestic rugby ladder and a sign to others that it has more than a semi-final in its sights this year. By keeping Auckland scoreless in the second half it emphasised the quality of its victory.
 So often did it take ball off Auckland, Napier could be renamed Turnover city.
For Auckland the pain continued as it attempts to rebuild its way out of a frustrating period in its history.
Karl Lowe was a key performer in the loose for Hawke's Bay and had his reward with a try from a lineout move right on the halftime break to give his side a 20-13 lead.
Hawke's Bay started like a house on fire, hammering the Auckland line and forcing turnovers, largely achieved by a rampant Lowe, and mistakes whenever the Queen City side managed its few moments of possession.
First five-eighths Matt Berquist not only controlled the flow of his side's attack but he added his goal-kicking boot to the measure and ended with 22 points.
He opened the scoring with his first penalty goal three minutes into the game.
Then as Auckland looked to build some momentum of its own lock Andrew van der Heijden lost the ball in a ruck and it was moved to the left by the Bay where wing Zac Guildford was put into space 45m out. His speed along the sideline was sufficient to burn off the defence and Berquist added the two points to give Hawke's Bay a 10-0 lead.
Berquist added another penalty goal in the 18th minute before Auckland's first five-eighths Daniel Bowden landed penalty goals in the 18th and 25th minutes.
Having managed to control its ball better through the middle stages of the half, Auckland had reward in the 34th minute when flanker Onasa'i Auva'a took a tap penalty and fed Bowden quickly and he in turn found centre Winston Stanley.
Stanley charged ahead and took the ball forward and was held in the tackle. He slipped an in-pass to the supporting Bowden and he raced over to score before adding the conversion to bring the scores level.
Halfback Taniela Moa slipped the Bay defences and set up a period of sustained assault around the 50th minute but the Bay recovered and cleared upfield. And it was Berquist who punished Auckland by landing a 51m penalty goal in the 52nd minute.
Five minutes later he was in the action again after wing Atieli Pakalani was caught just out from the Auckland line when fielding a Berquist tactical kick and penalised for holding on, and Berquist landed his fourth penalty goal.
Stanley had a solid game, especially in cover defence for Auckland
Lowe showed how much he has benefited from Super 14 exposure with a superb game in the loose while he had an outstanding ally in No.8 Thomas Waldrom in his first game for the side.
Waldrom capped his performance with a 63rd minute try that effectively shut Auckland out of any chance of a comeback, again on the back of a Lowe thrust.
Prop Faka'anaua Taumalolo put the icing on the cake with the bonus point try which rewarded a fine clean break from lively halfback Chris Eaton seven minutes from the end of the game. Then to emphasise their mastery, Hawke's Bay ended the game in the last seconds with wing Jason Kupa scoring a try.
At fullback Israel Dagg was classy again and made one fine break midway through the second half to keep Auckland pinned in its own territory. Guildford was always a danger and centre Jason Shoemark was a busy organiser of his backline.
Scorers: Hawke's Bay 47 (Zac Guildford, Karl Lowe, Scott Waldrom, Faka'anaua Taumalolo , Jason Kupa tries; Matt Berquist 5 con, 4 pen) Auckland 13 (Daniel Bowden try, con, 2 pen). HT: 20-13 |
|
Last Updated ( Sunday, 02 August 2009 )
|
