Rugby: Munro stars as Northland beat Taranaki

Rene Ranger of Northland gets tackled during the Air New Zealand Cup match between Northland and Taranaki at North Harbour Stadium. Photo / Getty Images

Northland spoiled All Black flanker Scott Waldrom's return to rugby action when they beat Taranaki 29-16 in an Air NZ Cup match played at Albany last night.

Northland first five-eighth Lachie Munro was the man of the match, scoring 24 points from a try, five penalties and two conversions.

He also set up second five-eighth Derek Carpenter for another try in the second half as Northland got their season going after a 14-19 defeat by Bay of Plenty in last week's first round.

Munro's try had a touch of brilliance as he regathered a chipkick and dotted down under the crossbar.

Taranaki's Waldrom, out of action with a back injury for the past two months, took the field in the second half but lasted less than five minutes before referee Vinny Munro sent him to the cooler for a high tackle on dangerous Northland winger Rene Ranger.

The game had been transferred to Albany after Whangarei's Okara Park was deemed unsuitable after poor weather conditions in the leadup to the season.

Northland started with a hiss and a roar as they pinned Taranaki in their 22 with some robust forward play.

But they could not make their early supremacy pay off when they duffed two chances at scoring.

Skipper and fullback Jared Payne threw Tim Dow a hard pass which the hooker could not collect cleanly with the tryline beckoning and then minutes later another backline dab set up by the forwards saw Rene Ranger bowled over before he could get a clean final pass away.

Taranaki needed just one minute in Northland's half to score through a penalty to first five-eighth Jack Cameron.

Cameron added two penalties before centre Willie Rickards set up a try for second five eighth Jayden Hayward with a big step before unloading to his midfield partner.

Cameron converted and then added another penalty before Munro brought Northland back into the game with brace of penalties to cut Taranaki's lead to 13-12 point at halftime.

Munro turned the tide with his try and conversion 10 minutes into the second half.

Taranaki closed the gap with another Cameron penalty while Waldrom was cooling his heels and the flanker was still absent when Carpenter scored.

Taranaki, who beat Tasman 21-9 in the first round, launched a push for a bonus-point by finishing within seven points of Northland near the end of the match.

But a steely and big-hearted Northland side successfully defended their line in the final three minutes as Taranaki pounded at their line.

- NZPA