Auckland 21
Wellington 15
The match programme promised us the home side would deliver "just another night class".
Auckland certainly dealt out a few lessons in a strong first half but the Lions showed themselves to be fast learners, coming back strongly in the second stanza before Auckland held on to win in terrible
conditions last night.
It was the 171st meeting between these two proud unions but the match, littered with errors, will not be one that lives long in the memory.
The blue-and-whites were as good as they have been all season in the opening 40 minutes - scoring two tries to none - while Wellington put in a carbon copy of their indifferent display against Manawatu last week, when coach Andre Bell said they lacked "attitude".
The Lions came out roaring in the second half, playing with purpose and physicality but the 15-6 halftime advantage proved too much.
Teenage Wellington first five-eighths Lima Sopoaga looked promising in his first start, kicking five penalties from six and showing some nice touches in the wet, although he will be disappointed with a couple of errors late in the match.
Opposite Matt Berquist controlled the game well for Auckland, scoring a try and contributing 11 points with the boot before being forced off with a late injury.
Coach Mark Anscombe said Auckland's defence was the difference.
"We couldn't get a flow in the second half but our scrambling defence was outstanding. Good defence builds confidence. They are a top team and a win against them - in those conditions - we'll take that."
Their backline has failed to click so far this season and, while Anscombe admitted that was a frustration, he pointed out they are still waiting to play a match with sun on their backs and a dry track.
Bell was upbeat, labelling the display a "vast improvement" on their last outing, and was particularly happy with the forward effort in the second half.
"We played with a lot more passion and know we can outmuscle teams in the forwards now."
It was another foul evening in Auckland's winter of seemingly non-stop rain and the two teams had to contend with tricky conditions - constant rain and a driving north-easterly wind blowing down the ground.
Perhaps that was the difference. Auckland lock Andrew Van Der Heijden joked that "we have had these conditions for a while now" and they seemed to adapt better to the elements.
In front of a modest crowd of just over 5000 at Eden Park, it was a game for the purists with very little flowing football and a bucket-load of mistakes.
League icon Graham Lowe once growled that "players could catch a bar of soap if they concentrated hard enough" but he would have been aghast yesterday, as both sides struggled to control the slippery ball.
Despite playing into a strong wind, Auckland dominated the first 40 minutes.
Wellington's kicking game was often inaccurate and ill-thought while Auckland's was precise and deep and they showed patience in possession, profiting from a pick-and-go strategy.
Wellington were marooned in their own half for the first 15 minutes and after a spell of sustained pressure from Auckland - and some impressive mauling from their pack - prop Liaki Moli barrelled over near the posts for his first representative try.
Wellington's response was immediate. Hooker Dane Coles busted into the Auckland half, well supported by his captain Rodney So'oialo. Lima Sopoaga slotted a subsequent penalty to ensure profit from their first foray, but Berquist replied in kind soon after.
As the match wore on conditions got worse; players struggled to retain their footing and at times it was comical as they stopped quickly, or tried to change direction, feet would disappear from underneath them like Bugs Bunny on roller skates.
In the final minutes of the half, a quickly-taken lineout throw surprised Wellington and split them apart. Centre Winston Stanley contrived to muddle a three-on-one opportunity but Auckland recycled the ball and Berquist slid over in the opposite corner.
Wellington came out like men possessed in the second half.
They hunted as a pack, hurtling into rucks and hitting hard. Winger Alapati Leiua made a couple of searing breaks but they were unable to cross the line, although Sopaga added two further penalties.
Berquist kicked a 40m penalty to restore the advantage in the 58th minute and errors took momentum away from the Lions, and he notched his third penalty from in front of the posts with 12 minutes on the clock.
Auckland 21 (L. Moli, M. Berquist tries, Berquist 3 pens, con) Wellington 15 (L. Sopoaga 5 pens). Halftime: 15-6.
