Rugby: Turbos send a clear message

Air NZ Cup
Manawatu 42
North Harbour 16

Manawatu refuse to go quietly.

Yesterday, Manawatuvians turned out at FMG Stadium in their droves to send a clear message to the NZRU they deserve to be part of a reduced 10-team Air New Zealand Cup. A number of their banners were so clear, security had to take them away because they were too tasty for TV.

Locals had also dipped into their pockets as part of the Save the Turbos campaign and, as of yesterday, were only a few bob short of their $180,000 target to ensure the union's books balanced when the NZRU auditors go through them at the end of the month.

Finances make up 30 per cent of the NZRU's criteria and it even prompted hooker Sean O'Connor to sacrifice his motley haircut of three years for $20,000.

A petition organised by the local newspaper was given to NZRU chairman Jock Hobbs and chief executive Steve Tew prior to the match.

How much attention they will pay to that is debatable. The decision on which four teams will be relegated to the new first division will be based more on mathematical equations than emotion and little has changed since Manawatu were ranked 11th in last year's criteria assessment.

They are seemingly fighting it out with Southland for the final of the four teams to be relegated and made the biggest statement yesterday.

They turned around an 8-16 deficit at halftime to blitz a dreadfully poor Harbour side in the second spell. The Turbos scored four tries after the break, and five in total, in a dominant second-half display.

Wing Aaron Taylor and his spiky, green haircut was in the thick of the action. He scored a brace of tries, landed six successful kicks at goal as well as a booming 45m dropped goal in his 27-point haul.

He showed good speed for his first try in the 11th minute when he raced down the sideline and then outpaced a tardy Nalu Tuigamala to his own audacious grubber seven minutes from time to claim Manawatu's bonus point.

It was anything but a one-man show, however. Captain Nick Crosswell was excellent at the breakdown and first five-eighths Aaron Cruden continues to impress, showing his full range of running, passing and kicking skills.

The only downside for Manawatu is that they can't finish outside the bottom four on the table. They briefly enjoyed life above Otago but that was before the blue and golds dispatched Counties Manukau later in the day.

Harbour are in the bottom four - and deserve to be. They have had a frightful season and it ended on a poor note. They should never have left themselves in such a vulnerable position against the Turbos.

They were by far the better side in the first half and, but for the last pass or some terrible handling, would have had more than the one try to Rudi Wulf.

There will be no doubt in the minds of the Manawatu faithful which of the two teams deserve to stay up.

Manawatu 42 (A. Taylor 2, R. Foreman, J Leota, C. Tomasi tries, Taylor 2 pens, 4 cons, dg) North Harbour 16 (R. Wulf try, M. Harris 3 pens, con). HT: 8-16.