A madcap game goes Wellington's way

By WYNNE GRAY

Rugby went ballistic at Eden Park last night as Auckland and Wellington forgot their defensive duties and buzzed the ball round the famous sporting arena.

You knew the mix was distinctive when Auckland prop Scott Palmer scored with a huge swan dive and pike over a maul, a move not usually associated with a 120kg prop who is supposed to be in retirement.

There was also the sight of another Fijian wing, Sireli Bobo, scorching down the left flank with defenders sprawling in his wake.

Bobo is a great mate of Blues star Rupeni Caucaunibuca, and may be just as quick.

If he had got more ball Wellington would have won handsomely. Instead, they had to withstand a late onslaught from Auckland before squeaking home by four points.

They also had to last the final five minutes with prop Kas Lealamanua in the sin bin for a professional foul.

It would have been an injustice if Wellington had lost; their pack was far hungrier at the breakdown and probably more cohesive in the jigsaw game.

Captain David Holwell made the final difference. He missed only a couple of kicks, while Brent Ward was not quite as accurate.

Wellington shrugged off their loss to Waikato last week to roll over the top of the defending NPC champions, who were strangely off-key.

After two games without conceding a try, Auckland's defences fell apart. They yielded their first try after just three minutes and a further three in the opening half, with their line crossed twice more in the second spell.

It was unlike Auckland, but their problem was widespread, even involving restored All Black flanker Daniel Braid.

It is rare for him to miss a tackle, but he missed Thomas Waldrom as the Wellington No 8 ran hard for a try from a lineout.

Midfield back Sam Tuitupou was a late withdrawal for Auckland, an absence which caused all sorts of rearrangements and probably compounded the defensive uncertainty.

Wellington introduced Ross Filipo at lock and shifted Kristian Ormsby to the blindside flank.

The move paid huge dividends in the first half, with Filipo crossing for the opening try, grabbing another when he breached Auckland's lineout defence on their line, and then setting up another for Jason Spice with a swivelling, dummying run.

Wellington were able to expose a strangely vulnerable Auckland defence, one which failed to make standard tackles rather than being beaten by some scintillating attack.

However, the visitors were unable to create a huge lead until midway through the second half because they also gave away tries too readily.

One came from an unfortunate chargedown of Holwell's kick, but their resistance also looked a little shaky when Orene Ai'i or Ward spread their attacking talents.

But in this game of high-octane action, bordering on the madcap at times, Wellington held on for a victory which will yet again have the NPC pundits puzzled about who is going to make it through to the playoffs.

Wellington 46 (R. Filipo 2, T. Waldrom 2, J. Spice, S. Bobo tries; D. Holwell 2 pen, 5 con) Auckland 42 (D. Witcombe, B. Atiga, X. Rush, S. Palmer, B. Mika, S. Paku, tries; B. Ward 2 pen, 3 con). HT: 29-23.