Rob Law Max Recruitment: Proud to be supporting club rugby in Wellington in 2014

Norths meet their match in Ponsonby

Jubilee Cup Premier | 14 October 2011 | Libby Gudmundsson

Photo with this article is from the Hurricanes region U16 tournament. The Wellington U16 and U16 Development teams both won their divisions. For more read here

Report kindly written by ARFU club rugby reporter Libby Gudmundsson:

Auckland club rugby Gallaher Shield?champions Ponsonby defeated the Norths' Invitational XV 41-13 at Western Springs Stadium in Auckland on Thursday night.

Despite trailing at halftime, Ponsonby put on a clinical second half performance, piling on 31 unanswered points and keeping the visitors scoreless.

The showcase match is one of several Ponsonby is hosting throughout the Rugby World Cup. Last night's match featured the majority of the Gallaher Shield winning Ponsonby squad up against a Norths' invitational team boasting Super Rugby player Robbie Fruean as well as Tomasi Palu and James So'oialo fresh from Rugby World Cup duties, as well as several current?and former Wellington club rugby?Jubilee and Hardham Cup players.

Despite a dreary day in Auckland the weather cleared to present stunning conditions for the match, played in front a vocal crowd.

It was the visitors who secured the first points of the match, referee Sheldon Eden-Whaitiri finding Ponsonby offside, and Norths' second five-eighth So'oialo slotting an easy penalty for the 3-0 lead.

So'oialo doubled Norths' score only minutes later, having made easy metres up field they received the penalty as Ponsonby was found to not have released the tackled player.

Ponsonby showed their intent shortly after, receiving a penalty in kickable range they directed the ball to the touchline for a lineout.

?The home team won the set piece and crafted one of their trademark rolling mauls, only to knock the ball on close to the line.

Refusing to let the opportunity slide Ponsonby set a stable scrum and livewire halfback Danny Elia stripped the ball from the Norths' player at the base of the scrum to fall over the line for the try.

It went unconverted, leaving Norths' in the lead early in the game.

Elia was in action shortly after, setting up Ponsonby winger Tom Wiley for the second try of the game.

From a scrum just inside their own half Elia went blind, drawing in defenders and passing to Wiley who was cutting in from the wing. Wiley showed his skill in beating one defender before putting a kick forward that he re-gathered over the try line, giving Ponsonby a 10-6 lead.

Norths' had opportunities to find the try line during the first half but handling errors and mis-communication in the backline let them down until Super 15 powerhouse Robbie Fruean set the game alight.

Spreading the ball left across the field Fruean showed blistering pace in a 45 metre run to the tryline, shrugging off would-be defenders along the way.

His try regained the lead for Norths', and a successful conversion took it out to 13-10, a lead they would maintain until half-time.

Possession changed freely for the remainder of the half, both teams showing skills but being let down by mistakes, Norths' in particular thwarting their attacking chances with sloppy handling.

The visitors had a chance to extend their lead late in the half, Sooialo attempting a 50 metre penalty kick that was on target but eventually didn't quite have the distance.

A half-time rev-up from coach Mark Hooper and some fresh legs from the reserve bench was the impetus for Ponsonby to display a stellar second half performance.

Their forwards showed their class early in the half keeping the ball in close and making good metres towards the try line.

Bulldozing prop Sione Mau proved he is impossible to stop in close range to the try line, diving over for Ponsonby's third of the match, regaining the lead 15-13.

Captain Chay Raui scored a quick double midway through the second spell, his first showcasing his experience of over 100-caps in the black and blue hoops.

A chip kick was put in the air by Ponsonby and collected by a Norths' player as he hit the deck. Popping the ball up to off-load, Raui swooped through pinching the ball and setting off in a 40 metre dash to the try line.

Only moments later Ponsonby was back in the Norths' 22 metre area, and took a quick tap after receiving a penalty.

Raui came in running a perfect line, injecting himself into the backline and slicing through the Norths' defence for the try, Posonby ahead 27-13.

Midway through the second half Ponsonby put the game beyond doubt scoring their fifth try and showing no sign of slowing down.

Norths' was relieved to see Ponsonby pulled up for a forward pass close to the try line, but a sloppy effort at scrum time meant for the second time in the match the home team was able to steal possession at the back of the scrum, the experience of Mark Ama securing the ball, and passing on to Richard Connell for the try.

Ponsonby was down to 14 men for a spell, Brad Tauwhare yellow carded for an infringement at the ruck, but Norths' was unable to capitalise on the numbers advantage.

While the visitors had a period of positive territory while a man up, they were unable to keep ball in hand, as errors continued to litter their game.

Ex-Norths' star and current Crusaders midfielder Fruean was not having the impact his team would have hoped, having a quiet game aside from two barn-storming runs.

Ponsonby finished the game with their seventh try, Mark Ama bumped off two defenders before sensing Norths' had no defenders back and putting a kick through.

Alex Samoa engaged in a foot race with a lone Norths' defender and won, gathering the ball to cross the line under the posts.

Ponsonby's performance against the Wellington premier runner-ups will go a long way in cementing their status as one of if not the best club teams in the country.

Scores:

Ponsonby 41 (C Raui 2, D Elia, T Wiley, S Mau, R Connel, A Samoa tries, M Ama 2 con, S Mau 1 con)
Norths' Invitational XV 13 (R Fruean try, J Sooialo 2 pen, 1 con). Halftime: Norths 13-10