Rugby: Anscombe guides Auckland into semifinals

Gareth Anscombe of Auckland scores a try. Photo / Getty Images

Gareth Anscombe guided Auckland into the ITM Cup semifinals with a rich harvest of 34 points helping turn back Tasman 49-10 at Auckland today.

The young first five-eighth scored three tries and landed eight of nine goalkicks as his team ended the round robin in second place.

Auckland's first semifinal appearance since 2007 will be at home against Waikato on Saturday.

Anscombe turned in a classy performance, with his second try in the 70th minute doubling as Auckland's bonus point fourth touchdown and crucial in pipping Waikato for second and avoiding a playoff in Hamilton.

Auckland were always expected to put away the 11th-placed Tasman with ease but that certainly was not the case in the first spell as Tasman hustled and bustled the home side but paid a price for sloppy handling.

Wanting a bonus point to snare second place and a home semifinal, Auckland led 13-3 at the interval after managing just one try, to halfback Toby Morland, who sniped his way around the side of a ruck to score from close range in the 28th minute.

Shorn of their All Blacks, Auckland played more expansively after the break after Anscombe's third penalty within seconds of the resumption left the result relatively cut and dried.

But Auckland were still embroiled in a game within a game, because another three tries were needed for a bonus point to avoid an away semifinal in Hamilton.

They lifted their intensity and strung together phases to apply pressure before finding reward when Anscombe stepped against the grain and through a hole in the 49th minute.

Four tries appeared inevitable just 2min later when fullback Brent Ward snared their third after turning on the pace to pierce a big gap inside the 22 en route to the tryline.

The match continued to open up as Auckland began exhibiting the sort of confidence which may serve them well in the playoffs, with their backs repeatedly asking questions of a flagging Tasman defence.

As the game started to lose its shape, with both sides coughing up possession, Tasman enjoyed a period in the ascendancy.

After flanker Glen Gregory spilled the final pass to butcher one try, Tasman wing Kade Poki made no mistake in the 64th minute when he dotted down after stepping off his right foot to beat two defenders.

It was not until 10min from fulltime that Auckland's anxiety levels eased when Anscombe, by this stage stationed on the left wing, used his pace to round Tasman fullback Robbie Malneek.

Another try followed to wing Atieli Pakalani and there was still time for Anscombe to complete his benefit, toeing the ball ahead to score in the final movement of the game.

Auckland 49 (Gareth Anscombe 3, Toby Morland, Brent Ward, Atieli Pakalani tries; Anscombe 3 pen, 5 con) Tasman 10 (Kade Poki try; James Marshall pen, Daniel Hawkins con). Halftime: 13-3.

- NZPA