Rugby: Boil over as Taranaki beaten by Manawatu

Jayden Hayward of Taranaki celebrates his try. Photo / Getty Images

Manawatu 15 Taranaki 10

Manawatu have returned to the top of the Championship table of the ITM Cup with a hard-fought 15-10 victory over Taranaki at FMG Stadium.

The Turbos scored two tries to one as they upset a high-flying Taranaki side who had won three games on the trot prior to the encounter.

Taranaki are blessed with arguably the finest backline of the competition, but they were shackled from playing an expansive game which had sliced Auckland to pieces last weekend.

Instead they had to make do with trying to attack off scraps of possession and playing off the backfoot as Manawatu dominated the second stanza with unrelenting pressure at the breakdown and a well-organised defence.

With their defence taking care of itself, Manawatu on attack wore down the visitors with one-off runners around the ruck area and they were able to find holes on the edges when spreading the ball wide.

Leading 8-7 at halftime, the homeside were fortunate to have gone into the break in-front after Taranaki had been the more enthusiastic side in the opening half.

The green and whites came out of the changing sheds with a renewed spirit as they defended doggedly and used the ball cleverly off their nine and ten pairing of Aaron Smith and Aaron Cruden.

With three years of game-time between them, the pair superbly navigated their side around the pitch and their footballing nous proved critical in decisive moments.

Smith, named man of the match, had a hand in the game's only try of the secondhalf which ultimately proved the difference as his side trailed 8-10.

Asaeli Tikoirotuma went over in the corner in the 64th minute after Smith had switched the attack to the short side finding Johnny Leota on the wrap-around, he moved the ball on and two passes later the Fijian winger went over to seal the match.

Taranaki tried to steal a late-victory as they chucked the ball around in the dying stages of the match but the Turbos were never going to be denied of taking the four competition points.

Earlier, first-five Cruden kicked the first points of the game with a penalty to lead after 15 minutes.

Taranaki hit the front with a brilliant team try to Jayden Hayward that went through seven pairs of hands in the 31st minute.

First-five Beauden Barrett flicked an offload to George Pisi who made strong a burst down the sideline before going to ground. Barret fed Hayward who made a break and threw a wide pass to winger Frasier Climo who beat three two defenders before he released the last pass to his second-five to score.

The Turbos weren't behind for long as Doug Tietjens scored two minutes later.

The stocky flanker showed plenty of pace and strength to run 35 metres and fend off the last defender to dive over in the corner.

Cruden couldn't add the conversion but his side held on for an 8-7 lead at the break.

Manawatu 15 (Doug Tietjens, Asaeli Tikoirotuma tries; Aaron Cruden pen, con ) Taranaki 10 (Jayden Hayward try; Beauden Barrett pen, con). Halftime: 8-7

- HERALD ONLINE