AIR NEW ZEALAND CUP

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Auckland battle past Manawatu

Saturday 23rd August 2008

Auckland held off Manawatu's challenge for the Ranfurly Shield with a 25-3 success in the Air New Zealand Cup at Eden Park on Saturday.

The hosts, who welcomed back three All Blacks for the game, had control for large periods but lacked the cutting edge on several occasions as they continued their fragmented start to the competition.

However, the win means that Auckland have now won two from four and lie mid-table at the current point with a controversial penalty-try decision freeing up proceedings between these sides.

The decision, in favour of Auckland, occurred eight minutes into the second period as it was ruled that Manawatu wing Lote Raikabula deliberately knocked the ball dead when he and home centre Ben Atiga were trying to win the race to the ball in the in-goal area.

After consultation with television match official Ben Skeen, referee Keith Brown was informed that foul play had occurred in-goal and that a penalty-try should have been awarded as the former believed a score probably would have transpired.

Prior to that period, Manawatu had come out all guns blazing with a first-minute penalty goal to fly-half Aaron Cruden their reward.

In opposition, Auckland looked like a team welcoming back several key players and it took time for combinations to settle before Manawatu's defence were forced to work overtime either side of full-back Lachie Munro's fifteenth and 20th minute penalty goals.

However, the visiting tacklers held firm until a man-up Auckland took advantage down the blindside saw lock Chris Lowrey on the wing where he lobbed an exquisite kick into the Manawatu 22-metre, which a defender ran into touch.

But from the resulting line-out half-back Taniela Moa spotted a gap and burst through to score with Munro adding the extras.

From then on Manawatu were playing catch-up as speculative passes became all too frequent.

There were positives to draw on for the visitors though with flank Josh Bradnock competing admirably against seven Daniel Braid

However, the improving hosts crossed again in the 65th minute as a blindside scrum opened up space for replacement Jamie Helleur to attack before handing on to wing Watisoni Lotawa, who raced downfield before setting up a breakdown.

And from the recycled ball it was captain Atiga on the end of the try-scoring pass who checked and crossed to add gloss to victory, despite a spirited late Manawatu effort.

The scorers:

For Auckland:
Tries: Moa, Penalty, Atiga
Con: Munro 2
Pen: Munro 2

For Manawatu:
Pen: Cruden

Auckland: 15 Lachie Munro, 14 Watisoni Lotawa, 13 Ben Atiga, 12 Benson Stanley, 11 David Smith, 10 Isaia Toeava, 9 Taniela Moa, 8 Peter Saili, 7 Daniel Braid, 6 Kurtis Haiu, 5 Jay Williams, 4 Chris Lowrey, 3 John Afoa, 2 Keven Mealamu, 1 Paea Fa'anunu.
Replacements: 16 Tom McCartney, 17 Tevita Mailau, 18 Dean Budd, 19 Onosa'i Auva'a, 20 Grayson Hart, 21 Jamie Helleur, 22 Winston Stanley.

Manawatu: 15 Francisco Bosch, 14 Lote Raikabula, 13 Johnny Leota, 12 Francis Bryant, 11 Andre Taylor, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Aaron Good, 8 Nick Crosswell, 7 Josh Bradnock (captain), 6 Hamish Gosling, 5 Paul Rodgers, 4 Hayden Triggs, 3 David Te Moana, 2 Rob Foreman, 1 Grant Polson.
Replacements: 16 Sean O'Connor, 17 Talau Hala, 18 James Goode, 19 Doug Tietjens/Adaam Ross, 20 Aaron Smith, 21 Aaron James, 22 Kurt Baker.

Referee: Keith Brown
Touch judges: Chris Pollock, Josh Noonan
TMO: Ben Skeen