Coach's halftime rev-up works a treat

By WYNNE GRAY

WAIKATO 33 AUCKLAND 15

A usually calm Waikato coach Ian Foster harangued his side at halftime, the first fullscale broadside he had delivered in a year at his Mooloo men as they spluttered through their first division final rematch with Auckland.

Foster's tirade was aimed at the lack of sting and accuracy in his team, an outburst which provoked them to march out to an 18-point victory against the NPC champions.

Waikato bashed Auckland back in the second spell.

They were aggressive at the breakdowns, with Scott Couch an impressive burglar and Steven Bates and Jonno Gibbes nearby marshalling the necessary support.

The tight forwards peeled Auckland back regularly around the fringes while David Hill, with the advantage of the wind, controlled the tempo of the Eden Park match.

It was a much more cohesive Waikato strategy compared to the frilly expansive work they tried early with little success.

Add on fullback Loki Crichton, who gave an unblemished exhibition of kicking, in contrast to Auckland's woes - Brent Ward kicked only two from five and Ben Atiga had two misses - and Waikato had a deserved victory.

"I've been up here lots of times before that goalkicking has been the difference when it hasn't helped us but it was nice to go this way round," Foster said.

Auckland's second straight home defeat showed some of the problems that surfaced last week against Wellington.

The defence was tighter but still uncertain, turnovers were too high and the goalkicking was poor, especially two shockers from Ward in front.

Auckland made an illusory start with Orene Ai'i twinkle-toeing past two forwards for a try in the fourth minute.

The NPC champions managed to breach Waikato's line once more in the match.

After a slow beginning, the pressure Waikato exerted created a couple of memorable moments around a more traditional try laid on by a delightfully weighted Hill grubber kick.

Late in the first half, as they still faced a 0-10 deficit, Waikato finally began to compile a series of plays which went beyond a handful of phases. Michael Collins, Deacon Manu, Scott Linklater and Co began to crunch out some metres around the defensive edges.

Ironically when they turned over possession, Auckland halfback David Gibson had his clearing kick charged down by the angular frame of lock Keith Robinson, who cantered across the line.

Waikato scraped into the interval 14-10 ahead and into Foster's glare.

Somewhere in the corridors at Eden Park an alarm began wailing, a siren which also signalled some Auckland distress.

A scrambled clearance gave Crichton dead aim downwind from 47m for a dropped goal.

Minutes later, the television match official confirmed second five-eighths Keith Lowen had touched down for the try of the match.

It resulted from a wacky episode of thrust and parry. Waikato looked as though they would score but the final pass went astray for Auckland to counter out near the halfway, where Hill intercepted and took off.

He positioned Lowen, who managed to force the ball at the corner, lying on his back with his arms outstretched as he was taken in a valiant cover tackle.

Crichton kicked a magnificent conversion from the sideline and chipped over some penalties, while Auckland raided expansively for final-quarter tries but managed only one.

There were bright patches for Auckland and some impressive moments for new loosie Sione Lauaki, John Afoa, Xavier Rush, Tane Tuipulotu, Ai'i and Atiga, but they were too individual and too scattered.

"Too many errors," lamented Auckland coach Wayne Pivac.

But he had a young side, he said, and he was not about to curtail their attacking ideas.

Pivac hopes midfield back Sam Tuitupou may be available next week despite a fractured shoulderblade revealed by a scan.

He said Tuitupou's return was up to advice from the medical staff but he had played with a similar shoulder break two years ago.

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