Bay of Plenty break 23-year hoodoo against Auckland

4.40pm

BAY OF PLENTY 32 AUCKLAND 25

The Bay of Plenty rugby team beat their Auckland NPC counterparts for the first time in 23 years in Tauranga today, upsetting the first division defending champions 32-25.

Winless since a 22-15 victory in the 1980 season, for the first time ever in the NPC the Steamers also scored four tries against Auckland, collecting a bonus point and keeping alive their dreams of making the semifinals.

Bay of Plenty also maintained their perfect record at home this year in front of a 10,000-strong crowd at Western Bay Finance Stadium, having seen off Italy and Waikato in preseason fixtures, and North Harbour, Taranaki, Northland and Auckland in the NPC.

"The players are realising the potential of their abilities and are proud of playing at home," Bay coach Vern Cotter said.

"When you see the reaction of the crowd at the end, something's come alive in Bay of Plenty rugby again and I think it's magnificent."

Halfback Kevin Senio and flanker Nili Latu were the standout players in the match, scoring two tries each and leading the stinging Bay of Plenty defence.

But the home side had to battle back from an early deficit as, for the second successive week, Auckland wing Iliesa Tanivula scored within the first minute, capitalising from the kickoff when Bay of Plenty failed to secure possession.

It took 26 minutes before Bay of Plenty could respond when lock Bernie Upton stole an Auckland lineout throw and his side drove 20m to the line before Latu crashed over.

Playing into the wind, the Bay of Plenty forwards dominated the first half and were further rewarded when Senio dummied through a big gap just before halftime and scored.

The 17-13 halftime lead was quickly extended when Latu scored his second a minute into the second spell, finishing off a superb backline move involving first five-eighth Glen Jackson, centre Alan Bunting and fullback Damon Kaui.

Jackson added a penalty minutes later to further extend the margin.

Auckland were gifted a try when Bay of Plenty wing Anthony Tahana knocked a penalty kick back into the field of play straight into Tanivula's hands and the big wing strolled across untouched.

But Senio swooped on a tentative Auckland 5m scrum, stealing the ball from his opposite David Gibson and scoring under the posts.

Brent Ward finished Auckland's third try from a slick backline move with 10 minutes left to play, with staunch Bay of Plenty defence holding them out in a frantic last stanza.

Auckland assistant coach Grant Fox didn't believe his side had underestimated their opposition.

"Bay are a very good footy side and we knew what to expect. We just got cleaned out up front in the first half and from there were playing catch-up rugby, and there's always a bit of risk attached to that."


Bay of Plenty 32 (Nili Latu 2, Kevin Senio 2, tries; Glen Jackson 2 pen, 3 con)

Auckland 25 (Iliesa Tanivula 2, Brent Ward tries; Ben Atiga 2 pen, 2 con)

Halftime: BOP 17-13.

- BAY OF PLENTY TIMES

NPC points table