Auckland pay dearly for second victory

By WYNNE GRAY

Auckland 10 Bay of Plenty 6

Auckland have kept their unbeaten record but lost two key backs for their NPC match against Taranaki on Friday.

Former All Black wing Joeli Vidiri broke his right arm during the win against Bay of Plenty on Saturday and is out for the season, while halfback Steve Devine will be missing with an ankle injury. There is also concern about fullback Mils Muliaina, who had Achilles' tendon soreness during Auckland's struggle to a second straight win.

Coach Wayne Pivac has added wing George Harder to his squad but yesterday had not decided who would back up his other halfback Kevin Senio for round three in the NPC.

Calling back Ben Meyer, on loan to Northland, was unlikely unless a diagnosis ruled Devine out for a lengthy spell.

The game was one Auckland could have expected to win comfortably, and they started that way when Eroni Clarke scored after two minutes. From a 5m scrum the centre charged on to a pass, broke several tackles and forced his way over the line.

Carlos Spencer converted and kicked a further penalty but that completed Auckland's scoring after 25 minutes. The Bay's solitary points came from two Glen Jackson penalties.

The Bay looked lively out wide, but Auckland's impregnable defence, led by Clarke, was too good.

Persistent rain and the greasy ground meant the match deteriorated, especially in the second half.

Auckland felt their momentum was slowed by referee Gary Wise not policing the offsides severely enough, but they also accepted that they had not played especially well.

"It was fairly disappointing to score early and then get nothing really for the rest of the game," said coach Wayne Pivac. "We had targeted this game as one where we might get a bonus point but we stalled after a strong start. At least we won, but we will need to be a lot better this week, even though Taranaki have not won yet."

After their shock win against Wellington in round one, the Bay gathered a bonus point for their gallant work at Rotorua and coach Gordon Tietjens thought they were in with a sniff of their second upset late in the match.

"I thought we were in with a real crack, especially with a lineout and scrum in the last few minutes."