Rugby: Pulsating end to poor game

By WYNNE GRAY

WELLINGTON 19 AUCKLAND 24

A disjointed game turned on its head in the final five minutes as Auckland hung on to continue their NPC hoodoo against Wellington last night.

Auckland made most of the play until that last stanza, which finished with a compelling sequence of about 20 phases from Wellington until they ran out of ideas, attackers and breath, and kicked the ball away.

That exasperation was a tribute to the magnificent Auckland defence, the linchpin for the visitors' win, with their defensive screens so tight that Wellington's dangerous threequarters were shut down all evening.

In Wellington the push has been to rename their new stadium the Coliseum (rather than the Cake Tin).

Most of the 34,500 crowd would have to concede the most impressive gladiators were garbed in blue and white, with outstanding defence led by king-hitters such as Andrew Blowers and Craig Innes. In the end Wellington ran out of attacking themes while Auckland with rare chances, made them count and extended their NPC run against Wellington after last losing in 1992.

After a stuttering opening spell, the game made a rousing return to life. Cashmore and Holwell swapped penalties before dynamic Auckland hooker Keven Mealamu burst onto a halfbreak and pass from Charles Reichelmann for the try and a 17-6 lead.

That should have snapped Wellington's resistance but Jerry Collins, a most impressive loose forward, scored to bring the home side straight back into the match.

Another Holwell penalty and with the last quarter of the game to run, Auckland had a solitary point advantage.

Burly centre Iliesa Tanivula, preferred ahead of the vastly experienced Eroni Clarke, gave the visitors another edge with a magical solo try. Gathering a loose pass and apparently hemmed in, Tanivula beat two tacklers and then skirted round Christian Cullen in an arcing 30m run for the converted touchdown.

Auckland, forced to start without bruised veteran Robin Brooke, also lost All Black prop Craig Dowd before kickoff to a hamstring strain. Wellington also had a late withdrawal when openside flanker Kupu Vanisi succumbed to the flu. His place was taken by rookie Rodney So'oialo.

The changes appeared to affect Wellington much more. While new tighthead prop Nick White led a tight Auckland scrum, Wellington were having great trouble clearing the ball, with their pack often in reverse. It put plenty of pressure on new No 8 Collins and debut halfback James King, NZ Colts but without any great NPC experience.

Both sides suffered through dropped ball and turnovers as they belted each other with great defence. The heavy hits, greasy conditions and slippery ball combined to raise the error rate.

It was 25 minutes before any scoring when Holwell goaled a close range penalty. That looked like being the only scoring of a messy half until a speculative Auckland up-and-under drew some rewards.

Christian Cullen muffed the catch, juggled it and then tried to bat the ball across to Tana Umaga nearby. All he did was shovel it into the path of a group of Aucklanders who hacked the ball downfield where Malili Muliaina recovered and offloaded for lock Leo Lafaiali'i to score. Cashmore converted to make up for missing an early penalty.

Mistakes were more prevalent than quality football as conditions alternated between showers and swirling winds with the players trying to cope with the slippery surface.

Auckland 24 (L. Lafaiali'i, K. Mealamu, I. Tanivula, tries; A. Cashmore, 3 con, pen)

Wellington 19 (J. Collins, try; D. Holwell, 4 pen, con). Halftime: 7-3