Auckland reigns in the wet

By CHRIS RATTUE

Auckland 29 Southland 7

Auckland cruised to an opening 29-7 NPC win over Southland, after shaking off some early season wobbles in the first half.

The southerners were unable to offer much in the match as Auckland held sway in the forwards and controlled possession.

On a sticky Eden Park surface after heavy rain earlier in the day, Auckland handicapped themselves with handling problems in the first spell and went to the break with a 10-7 lead, but they quickly took control in the second half.

From the slick work of fullback Malili Muliaina to the sharp runs of hooker Keven Mealamu, Auckland were a class above Southland as they took a four-try, bonus-point victory before a 12,000 crowd.

There were the odd explosive moments in the match, but referee Paul Honiss turned in an unobtrusive display, issuing just 12 penalties.

Two highlights were provided by Auckland midfield back Jeremy Stanley, who left Joel Wilson and Earl Va'a grounded with crushing second-half tackles.

But it was not a game of drama, more a case of Auckland clinically putting Southland away, controlling the ball up front and giving Carlos Spencer time to run the game with a typical mixture of flamboyance and kicking which pinned Southland into defensive corners.

The try which set Auckland free of their first-half shackles came in the 42nd minute when left wing Iliesa Tanivula pushed off his marker Anthony Lafaiali'i, and the result was never in doubt from then on.

Xavier Rush, captaining Auckland for the first time in the NPC, scored off a backline move from a scrum, and replacement Justin Wilson notched the bonus point try in the 70th minute.

Auckland had only managed to get their noses in front just before halftime when Spencer goaled a penalty after fine piece of work from Justin Collins, who kicked loose lineout ball into space and dived full length to regather.

Spencer's penalty made it 10-7 but the home side should have been much further ahead given that they owned the ball in the half, and spent almost the entire spell in Southland's territory.

By the end of the half their scrum was also smashing up the Southland eight, but they faced dogged defence and a try went begging when Collins lost the ball over the Southland line after the sort of magical pass that only Spencer can deliver.

Spencer missed two early penalty goals and Southland opened the scoring when wing Kuka Asolupe grabbed a loose pass and raced 60m. Auckland levelled in the 26th minute through Mealamu after a powerful surge from No 8 Samiu Vahafolau.

Auckland 29 (K. Mealamu, I. Tanivula, X. Rush, J. Wilson tries, C. Spencer 3 con, pen)

Southland 7 (K. Asolupe try, E. Va'a con).

HT: 10 - 7.