NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Sport

Rugby: Wellington destroy Auckland to make NPC final

Kris Shannon
By Kris Shannon
Multimedia Journalist·NZ Herald·
14 Oct, 2022 08:05 AM3 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Riley Higgins scores for Wellington. Photo / Photosport

Riley Higgins scores for Wellington. Photo / Photosport

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Wellington 54
Auckland 19

Wellington have earned another chance to finally shed their tag as the greatest losers in New Zealand rugby.

The Lions scored eight tries to sweep aside Auckland in tonight's NPC semifinal at Sky Stadium, setting up a final date with either Canterbury or Bay of Plenty.

It was the first time Wellington had scored 50 points against Auckland and continued a hot run of form that could conclude a remarkable season.

And if they are able to win next weekend, adding the NPC crown to the Ranfurly Shield they collected earlier in the season, Wellington will end a painful drought.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Since their last title in 2000, the province have lost eight consecutive top-division finals, including four straight between 2006-09. Four of those defeats were by Canterbury - the opponents they beat in the 2000 showpiece - so Wellington would be forgiven for cheering on the Steamers tomorrow night.

The second semifinal will also determine home advantage and Wellington are unlikely to relish a potential trip to Orangetheory Stadium, where they lost 43-10 earlier in the season.

But the Lions have since been in imperious form, winning seven straight games to close the round robin - including a Ranfurly Shield triumph at Hawke's Bay - before edging the Magpies in last weekend's quarter-final.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Their most recent victory must count as their most impressive. The hosts jumped out to a 26-7 halftime lead against Auckland, as an inspired Jackson Garden-Bachop had a hand in three tries before scoring a fourth himself.

Julian Savea rumbled over in the corner for the first, before Riley Higgins collected a clever Garden-Bachop kick over the top after Wellington's scrum had demolished Auckland on their own feed.

A rampaging Asafo Aumua scored his side's third try and Garden-Bachop completed a dream start when he cut through the defence after an errant Auckland lineout.

The visitors had managed parity in possession and field possession but, in addition to their set-piece woes, missed far too many tackles to remain in touch.

Discover more

Sport|rugby

Superstar switch: What Ruby Tui's change means for Black Ferns

14 Oct 03:22 AM
Black Ferns

Black Ferns make wholesale changes for second World Cup clash

13 Oct 10:00 PM
All Blacks

Corruption case: Founder of main ABs sponsor on trial, NZ Rugby await verdict

13 Oct 04:30 AM
Black Ferns

The Black Ferns' creative solution to latest Cup challenge

12 Oct 04:00 AM

Tries for Niko Jones and Jackson Pugh on either side of the break saw Auckland pull within 12 points but Wellington seemed inspired by that scare.

TJ Perenara's 56th-minute try flung open the floodgates, with Pepesana Patafilo then dotting down before Higgins completed his brace and Ruben Love crossed to help his side crack the half century.

With Auckland well and truly humbled, Wellington will now await their opponents, and on this form will surely feel confident about at last crossing the final hurdle.

Wellington 54 (Riley Higgins 2, Julian Savea, Asafo Aumua, Jackson Garden-Bachop, TJ Perenara, Pepesana Patafilo, Ruben Love tries; Garden-Bachop 5 cons, Aidan Morgan 2 cons)
Auckland 19 (Niko Jones, Jackson Pugh, Patrick Tuipulotu tries; Harry Plummer 2 cons)
Halftime: 26-7

Save

    Share this article

Latest from Sport

live
All Blacks

All Blacks name squad to face France in Dunedin series opener

02 Jul 09:30 PM
Formula 1

Formula One could relocate Qatar, Abu Dhabi races if Middle East tensions rise

02 Jul 08:05 PM
Tennis

Wimbledon giant-killings continue but Alcaraz and Sabalenka advance

02 Jul 07:56 PM

There’s more to Hawai‘i than beaches and buffets – here’s how to see it differently

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Sport

All Blacks name squad to face France in Dunedin series opener
live

All Blacks name squad to face France in Dunedin series opener

02 Jul 09:30 PM

Scott Robertson's side begin their season on Saturday night.

Formula One could relocate Qatar, Abu Dhabi races if Middle East tensions rise

Formula One could relocate Qatar, Abu Dhabi races if Middle East tensions rise

02 Jul 08:05 PM
Wimbledon giant-killings continue but Alcaraz and Sabalenka advance

Wimbledon giant-killings continue but Alcaraz and Sabalenka advance

02 Jul 07:56 PM
All Blacks v France: All you need to know

All Blacks v France: All you need to know

02 Jul 07:32 PM
From early mornings to easy living
sponsored

From early mornings to easy living

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP