Taranaki lock in home semi after pipping Auckland

Photo above: Taranaki's forward pack should be credited for their win over Auckland to secure a home semi-final spot. Photo by Dave Lintott Photography. 

A last minute try to Taranaki’s Toa Halafihi has secured the amber and blacks a home semi-final after beating Auckland 35-32 in New Plymouth on Thursday night.  

The try by the number 8 was off the back of the scrum five metres out from the line with only seconds on the clock with the score at 32-28 to the big city slickers.  

However, the loss to Auckland hasn’t entirely knocked them out of play-off contention as they hold onto third spot by virtue of their two bonus points and still have an outside chance, especially of Counties Manukau are unable to pick up a bonus point against Canterbury at home on Saturday. Tasman will also need to beat Southland in Nelson on Sunday.  

What is certain though is that Canterbury and Taranaki will host the two semi-finals next weekend, who and at what times are still to be determined.     

The national provincial championship match had all the drama you could think of entertaining the vocal New Plymouth crowd.  

Taranaki scored five tries to four but it was Auckland who jumped up to a 12-0 lead early in the first half putting their mark on the game early.  

Melai Nanai scored first in the corner from scrum pressure after referee Shane McDermott consulted with television match official Max O’Leary to judge whether a pass in the process was forward, but the footage was not clear and obvious.  

Auckland hit back minutes later this time through possible All Black hopeful Rieko Ioane who first sliced through the defence on his own 22 metre line before finishing off a try in the same corner to score his ninth try of the year. Again the pressure came at scrum time but Taranaki dropped too many tackles and Auckland took full advantage of that.  

During all of this Taranaki took a blow as captain Mitchell Crosswell left the field and subsequently failed a concussion test putting him in doubt for next week’s semi-final.  

It wasn’t until the 17th minute when Taranaki opened the scoring with a powerful run by Declan O’Donnell who offloaded to Marty McKenzie who sailed over the line untouched.  

Taranaki’s Stephen Perofeta was then denied a try in the corner as the ball bobbled around in the air close to the line with O’Leary ruling it went forward off a Taranaki hand, but McKenzie slotted a penalty as the referee was playing advantage closing it up to a four-point gap.  

Seta Tamanivalu then scored for Taranaki after busting through the line minutes out from halftime but it was Ioane who scored his second try of the night just before the break giving Auckland the 19-13 lead.  

The lead extended to 22-13 thanks to Auckland’s Simon Hickey who slotted a penalty kick from wide out, but Taranaki quickly bounced back using typical old-fashioned forward play from a lineout with hooker Rhys Marshall able to control the ball at the back of the rolling maul to score.  

That maul play worked well for Taranaki all night with a clear advantage against Auckland exposing their defence.  

Auckland’s Scott Scrafton spent 10 minutes in the sinbin for a professional foul close to the line with the subsequent penalty kicked by McKenzie.  

O’Leary was back into his work again ruling Latu Vaeno knocked the ball on in the air on halfway that lead to Sean Wainui to score in the corner with Hickey able to slot a penalty kick moments later for the lead at 25-21.  

Taranaki were back on the board with a charge down by Australian lock Ben Matwijow with the bounce favourable for him to pick it up and score and with 13 minutes to play, it was game on.

But with less than 10 minutes to go Taranaki’s Declan O’Donnell was put in the sinbin and gave away a penalty try after a high shot on Nanai.  

Thankfully for Taranaki though, Halafihi was able to put that all behind them with his try to save the day for the home side.  

Taranaki 35 (Marty McKenzie, Seta Tamanivalu, Rhys Marshall, Ben Matwijow, Toa Halafihi tries; McKenzie 2 pen, 2 con) 
Auckland 32 (Rieko Ioane 2, Melani Nanai tries, penalty try; Simon Hickey 3 con, 2 pen)
HT: 13-19