Auckland suffers first NPC loss

Auckland suffered an embarrassing first loss in the NPC rugby competition this season when they were belted 40-19 by Taranaki in New Plymouth today.

The homeside went into the match in eighth place in the competition after just one win from five games, and thrashed the competition leaders six tries to one.

They had Auckland on the backfoot for almost the entire game with their determined pick-and-ram style and scored four tries in the second half when Auckland were battered and bruised.

The Aucklanders led 13-0 within 13 minutes before Taranaki scored two quick tries but still trailed 12-13 at halftime.

With No 8 Chris Masoe in superb form taking the ball up, those around him, including captain and lock Paul Tito and front rowers Tony Penn, Andrew Hore and Gordon Slater put in honest work in the tight and laid the foundation for the inspiring win.

Promising lock Jason Eaton took at least 10 clean lineouts to ensure a constant supply of good ball for attacking, which they varied to open up the Auckland defence.

Masoe was almost everywhere the ball went for the 80 minutes.

"I think we have been going okay this season but we sort of didn't finish off our games in our terms," Tito said.

"They boys asked for it (extra effort) at halftime, the coach asked for it and it was great to see the boys put it in and finish them off."

Fullback Brent Ward kicked two penalties and converted a 13th minute try from lock Brad Mika, who had intercepted a Taranaki pass and raced 40m to score between the uprights for Auckland's 13-0 early lead.

However Taranaki, with the forwards led by a rampaging Masoe, were still dominating possession in the rucks and turning over the ball from Auckland.

Only a minute before Mika's try, winger Sailosi Tagicakibau was hauled over the corner flag when Taranaki finally managed to string together their first meaningful attack on the left.

Their forwards hassled Auckland across the park and eventually broke down the defence twice in three minutes to score two thrilling tries, both sparked by Tagicakibau.

He started the attack for the first before Lifeimi Mafi and Craig Fevre assisted with the momentum and Masoe cleared the way for fullback James Hilgendorf to score.

Takicakibau's surge put the homeside on the frontfoot and from the next phase, hooker Andrew Hore powered his way over from first receiver on the short side of a ruck.

First five-eighth Sam Young, who had missed the first conversion, succeeded with the second but failed to put his team ahead for halftime when his booming penalty hit the upright just seconds from the break. Auckland led 13-12.

Ward stretched Auckland's lead with a penalty before No 8 Angus Macdonald was sinbinned by referee Steve Walsh for punching Tony Penn.

The Taranaki forwards, taking advantage of the seven-man Auckland pack, upped their effort and after at least four efforts to bulldoze over the line, Tito got over and Young kicked the conversion for their 19-16 lead.

Ward levelled the scores with yet another penalty but Taranaki, were continuing to show more determination.

A bad Hilgendorf last-pass denied them a try but their bonus-earning try came from Young following waves of attack, which Auckland managed to hold for a while with scrambling defence.

Young converted his own try for a seven-point lead.

With Auckland captain Justin Collins forced from the field after a head-clash, Auckland looked even more rattled.

A series of rucks again had Auckland desperately hanging on but Taranaki lost the ball, stole it back in a tackle and Mafi cut through the middle before Masoe snapped up his pass near the line to score.

Young kicked the conversion and Auckland were looking at a rather humiliating scoreline.

Eaton was rewarded for his excellent work with Taranaki's fifth try -- after they picked the ball off the deck 11 times and pummelled the Auckland defence.

Taranaki 40 (James Hilgendorf, Andrew Hore, Paul Tito, Sam Young, Chris Masoe, Jason Eaton tries; Young 5 con)

Auckland 19 (Brad Mika try; 4 pen, con).

Halftime: 12-13.

- NZPA