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
    • Deloitte Fast 50
    • 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

Auckland reigns in the wet

Chris Rattue
By Chris Rattue
Sports Writer·
13 Aug, 2001 02:45 AM3 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

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

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save
    Share this article
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

By CHRIS RATTUE

Auckland 29 Southland 7

Auckland cruised to an opening 29-7 NPC win over Southland, after shaking off some early season wobbles in the first half.

The southerners were unable to offer much in the match as Auckland held sway in the forwards and controlled possession.

On a sticky Eden Park surface after heavy rain earlier in the day, Auckland handicapped themselves with handling problems in the first spell and went to the break with a 10-7 lead, but they quickly took control in the second half.

From the slick work of fullback Malili Muliaina to the sharp runs of hooker Keven Mealamu, Auckland were a class above Southland as they took a four-try, bonus-point victory before a 12,000 crowd.

There were the odd explosive moments in the match, but referee Paul Honiss turned in an unobtrusive display, issuing just 12 penalties.

Two highlights were provided by Auckland midfield back Jeremy Stanley, who left Joel Wilson and Earl Va'a grounded with crushing second-half tackles.

But it was not a game of drama, more a case of Auckland clinically putting Southland away, controlling the ball up front and giving Carlos Spencer time to run the game with a typical mixture of flamboyance and kicking which pinned Southland into defensive corners.

The try which set Auckland free of their first-half shackles came in the 42nd minute when left wing Iliesa Tanivula pushed off his marker Anthony Lafaiali'i, and the result was never in doubt from then on.

Xavier Rush, captaining Auckland for the first time in the NPC, scored off a backline move from a scrum, and replacement Justin Wilson notched the bonus point try in the 70th minute.

Auckland had only managed to get their noses in front just before halftime when Spencer goaled a penalty after fine piece of work from Justin Collins, who kicked loose lineout ball into space and dived full length to regather.

Spencer's penalty made it 10-7 but the home side should have been much further ahead given that they owned the ball in the half, and spent almost the entire spell in Southland's territory.

By the end of the half their scrum was also smashing up the Southland eight, but they faced dogged defence and a try went begging when Collins lost the ball over the Southland line after the sort of magical pass that only Spencer can deliver.

Spencer missed two early penalty goals and Southland opened the scoring when wing Kuka Asolupe grabbed a loose pass and raced 60m. Auckland levelled in the 26th minute through Mealamu after a powerful surge from No 8 Samiu Vahafolau.

Auckland 29 (K. Mealamu, I. Tanivula, X. Rush, J. Wilson tries, C. Spencer 3 con, pen)

Southland 7 (K. Asolupe try, E. Va'a con).

HT: 10 - 7.

2001 NPC schedules/scoreboard

NPC Division One squads

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Save
    Share this article

Latest from Rugby

All Blacks

When six tries aren't enough – why All Blacks' attack is under pressure

All Blacks

'If you lose, you're useless': Ian Foster on All Blacks pressure and 'vital' faith in dark moments

Premium
School Rugby

'Good character prevails': King’s College triumph in Auckland First XV final


Sponsored

Farm plastic recycling: Getting it right saves cows, cash, and the planet

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Recommended for you

'Best of the best': Craggy Range and chef shine at awards
Hawkes Bay Today

'Best of the best': Craggy Range and chef shine at awards

'The unstoppable move south': Ex-TVNZ host Peter Williams, top screen CEO on the South Island's lure
New Zealand

'The unstoppable move south': Ex-TVNZ host Peter Williams, top screen CEO on the South Island's lure

Bus collides with two cars outside high school
New Zealand

Bus collides with two cars outside high school

'Toxic and volatile relationship' preceded fatal beating, Crown alleges at murder trial
Crime

'Toxic and volatile relationship' preceded fatal beating, Crown alleges at murder trial

Christopher Luxon says Govt will ‘get to the bottom’ of Airways outage
Politics

Christopher Luxon says Govt will ‘get to the bottom’ of Airways outage

'My dogs have attacked my bro': Man allegedly mauled to death by pack of hungry dogs
Crime

'My dogs have attacked my bro': Man allegedly mauled to death by pack of hungry dogs



Latest from Rugby

When six tries aren't enough – why All Blacks' attack is under pressure
All Blacks

When six tries aren't enough – why All Blacks' attack is under pressure

The forward pack is fronting but the All Blacks' attack and backline is in the spotlight.

18 Aug 04:00 AM
'If you lose, you're useless': Ian Foster on All Blacks pressure and 'vital' faith in dark moments
All Blacks

'If you lose, you're useless': Ian Foster on All Blacks pressure and 'vital' faith in dark moments

18 Aug 12:44 AM
Premium
Premium
'Good character prevails': King’s College triumph in Auckland First XV final
School Rugby

'Good character prevails': King’s College triumph in Auckland First XV final

17 Aug 10:44 PM


Farm plastic recycling: Getting it right saves cows, cash, and the planet
Sponsored

Farm plastic recycling: Getting it right saves cows, cash, and the planet

10 Aug 09:12 PM

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
search by queryly Advanced Search