Rugby: Try and try again...

Northland again left their best until last but although they outscored Taranaki four tries to two, they couldn't salvage a win.

A gutsy Derek Carpenter try in the final minute earned the Taniwha two bonus points but the chance of a miraculous comeback evaporated when they knocked on from the resulting kickoff, leaving Taranaki relieved 32-31 winners.

The error was symptomatic of their performance in the match on Saturday evening at Toll Stadium. Apart from the final quarter, the Taniwha were unable to hold on to the ball long enough to really threaten Taranaki.

Time and time again they made metres along the flanks only to give the ball away cheaply. -

"It's a big concern for us and one we have to improve on," Carpenter said. "We were making big gains but then we weren't clinical enough at the ruck or our ball security was poor and that let Taranaki off the hook."

The Taniwha efforts weren't helped by referee Ben Skeen, whose breakdown rulings frustrated the players.

"We asked him before the game, how long were we allowed to attack the ball at the ruck area and he told us ... and I felt we made a few good turnovers but he called them the other way," Carpenter said.

Skeen also disallowed a Taniwha try by Jack Whetton at the start of the second half and consistently missed Taranaki hands playing the ball on the ground at the breakdown.

Taniwha coach Ferris felt the referee had made a mistake on the Whetton try and said both he and Taranaki coach Colin Cooper were frustrated by inconsistent calls at the breakdown.

A groin strain robbed the Taniwha of Ash Moeke and without his kicking abilities and field direction, the home side struggled to score in the first spell.

Sonatane Takalua capitalised on his first start and blitzed the defence from a set-piece to score the opening try of the match.

The lead was brief however, and Taranaki's Frazier Climo drilled three first-half penalties along with the conversion of Kurt Baker's try, as the visitors finally broached the overworked Taniwha defence, to lead 16-7 at the break.

After the Whetton no-try, Taranaki continued to add to the lead before Rhyan Caine put Rene Ranger into a gap with his first touch of the ball to narrow the deficit to 17-22. Climo was then driven over the line to put Taranaki ahead 29-17 before the Taniwha finally started hitting their straps.

Orene Ai'i missed a second penalty attempt which proved even more costly when he strained his groin. Carpenter moved in to first receiver and with six minutes to go replacement winger Dan Caprice scored to narrow the gap to five points.

Matt Wright added a good conversion before the Taniwha again fell afoul of Skeen's whistle and Climo's boot to trail by eight. Carpenter's last-ditch try gave them encouragement ahead of their game against Southland on Wednesday in Invercargill.