Intercept try undoes Northland side

Northland Development paid a huge price for flair when they threw away their first win of the season by handing Auckland Emerging Players an intercept try on the stroke of fulltime at the Maungakaramea Domain on Saturday.
With time almost up on the clock, halfback Logan Wendt spotted an overlap on the blindside of the ruck but his pass didn't find one of his backs. Instead it was grabbed in desperation by Auckland's Louis Maxwell, who then drew the cover and flicked the ball inside to Leo Fa'eteete who scored giving the visitors a one-point advantage with time already up on the clock.
It was a cruel blow for Northland,  who had fought their way back into the game after conceding two early tries and who had outplayed the visitors with good performances all over the park.
"It was a much better performance for us this week, we came back well and the boys have got to take some confidence from that but we took our foot off their throats in the last 15 minutes and allowed them opportunities to get back into the game," coach Adriaan Ferris said.
"The boys are obviously disappointed with that but there is still plenty of work to do before we put in a performance we can be happy with."
After conceding tries in the third and 10th minute, they trailed 0-14 and it looked as though it might be a long day for Northland. But the home side stepped up their defence and slowly began to take the game to Auckland.
Isa Nawaqa, playing at second five-eighth, led the comeback with a good try which was converted by Luke Muggeridge, who added two more penalties before the break to close the gap to 13-14.
The points came as a result of the extra possession the forwards were winning, with the speed of Matt Harrison and Jared McKenzie to the breakdown,  wearing down the bigger Auckland pack.
A similar trend emerged in the second half with Auckland on the offensive early but this time Northland were ready and soaked up the pressure by defending as a team. First five-eighth Cass Walding  showed his potential, with a couple of good steals at the breakdown, adding to a  fine all-round performance.
Northland conceded a penalty in the 47th minute but Muggeridge closed the gap to one point again and was then involved in the side's second try. Auckland were beaten down the left flank in a slick backline move that saw JoJo Ranger score  a try, after good inter-passing by Muggeridge and Maurice Cooper.
Harrison was sinbinned soon afterwards for pushing the boundaries at the breakdown, giving Auckland a numerical advantage but Northland continued to defend with passion and their bench players also made a difference, in particular the workrate of prop Haimoana Brown and loose forward Stu Oldfield.
Once again the Auckland pack tired and Northland might have added to their 21-17 lead after enjoying some territory and possession but they didn't get the rub of the green - which left them open to the final heartbreaking play of the game.
Northland Development 21 (Tries: I Nawaqa, J Ranger; L Muggeridge 3 pen, 1 con) Auckland Emerging Players 24 (Tries: L Maxwell, J Niumata, L Fa'eteete; S Wills 2 con 1 pen, R Ata Matatumua con)