Rugby: Auckland deflate Steamers charge

Auckland wing Dave Thomas. Photo / Getty Images

Auckland gave their stuttering Air NZ Cup rugby campaign fresh legs with a 29-14 win over previous leaders Bay of Plenty.

Bay of Plenty's first loss of the season came at a wet Eden Park in Auckland where the home side put behind them an unconvincing start to the competition.

They entered today's match third from bottom after losing three of four matches and ended it in seventh place and immeasurably better off in the confidence stakes.

While the conditions made accurate execution so much more difficult Auckland coach Mark Anscombe would have been pleased with the toil and endeavour of his players, who had previously failed to flatter.

Two tries to struggling All Blacks wing Joe Rokocoko aided Auckland's cause on a day when handling and ball control were difficult.

Auckland made a bright start under gloomy skies, racing 14-0 clear inside 19 minutes following tries to Rokocoko and Daniel Bowden.

Rokocoko struck first after fullback Paul Williams and centre Isaia Toeava attacked in a tight channel down the short side before the wing accepted the final pass.

First five-eighth Bowden then benefited from Bay of Plenty's failure to control a greasy ball which they turned over at a ruck inside their own 22. A lazy and loose pass found no one, enabling Bowden to get a boot to it before chasing it over the line.

First five-eighth Mike Delany, Bay of Plenty's form player this season, kept his team in the contest with three penalties and at 9-14 behind after 54 minutes the visitors threatened to maintain their unbeaten record.

But Rokocoko then struck for a second time to give his side some breathing space, at the tail end of a counter attack launched by lock Kurtis Haiu, who set Williams free after hauling in a high kick from Delany.

One quick ruck later, Auckland shifted the ball to the right and Rokocoko loomed on the inside shoulder of Toeava to cross wide out.

Bay of Plenty arrived in Auckland with the stingiest defensive record in the competition after conceding just three tries in four matches.

They left the city after giving up four alone to Auckland, who collected their bonus point five-pointer 5min from fulltime when Williams capped off a fine move which again featured good handling from Toeava.

There was a slither of consolation for them, though, with the last try of the match scored in the 82nd minute to wing Nigel Hunt after Bay of Plenty refused to allow the ball to die and No 8 Colin Bourke broke clear down the right flank before offloading.

The result left Bay of Plenty third on the standings, two points behind Canterbury and Southland.

- NZPA