Auckland kept alive their semifinals aspirations with a 37-13 win over ITM Cup rugby rivals Counties-Manukau at Pukekohe today.
While their execution was absent for large portions of the game Auckland's endeavour finally won the argument as they overcame a 6-13 halftime deficit.
Five second-halftries, including two each to flanker and captain Daniel Braid and wing Joe Rokocoko, saw them emerge on the right side of the ledger after their own shortcomings and Counties-Manukau hustle and bustle had threatened an upset.
Braid's first came after he wrestled his way over in the 45th minute when finding himself on the end of the backline following a patient build-up while Rokocoko scurried through a hole created by a clever offload in the tackle by returning All Black Isaia Toeava.
Toeava was introduced early in the second half in his comeback from a lengthy injury break and made a telling difference at centre as he offered Auckland the direction and control they had lacked in the first spell.
Braid then darted in for his second 15 minutes from fulltime, taking the ball one off the ruck on the short side where he found enough room to reach the line.
Rokocoko settled the issue with a bonus-point fourth try 8min later after twisting out of a tackle then flanker Jerome Kaino added another from close range for good measure as Auckland showed a cutting edge on attack which has been absent for much of this season.
Counties-Manukau deservedly led at halftime, with first five-eighth Dean Cummins providing all their points, including a try in the 25th minute when he accepted an inside ball from grounded wing David Raikuna to scoot 10m to the line untouched.
Auckland began with vigour but their backs fumbled and bumbled a lot of the ball delivered to them and they were restricted to two penalties from teenaged first five-eighth Gareth Anscombe before the interval.
By contrast, the Counties-Manukau backs, with centre Siale Piutau and Raikuna prominent, were particularly threatening from broken play while their forwards increasingly disrupted Auckland's flow.
