Newcomers rise to coaches' challenge

By GRAHAM REDDAWAY

With their NPC clash just three weeks away, neither Auckland coach Wayne Pivac nor Northland's Bryce Woodward were giving anything away in their warm-up match in Whangarei.

Both elected to rest key players and give a run to several of the younger contenders for places in the sides, and both were pleased with the outcome.

The result was a 26-26 draw after Auckland had scored four tries to three, but if Northland had converted the last-minute penalty offered by referee David Russell they would have won.

Pivac admitted he had problems with some positions, but was generally pleased by the output of several of the newcomers, especially among the loose forwards where Angus MacDonald, Mose Tuialii and Sione Lauaki displayed plenty of talent.

He will be concerned that his pack suffered against Northland's toughness and better techniques in scrums and lineouts.

Woodward started the Blues pair, Derren Witcombe and Mike Storey, with Tim Knight in the front row and with the nous of Glenn Taylor and the cheeky ability of lanky Brad Taylor at lock, Northland had the measure of their opposition for a good deal of the match.

The best players on the field were James Arlidge at first five-eighths and an ailing but ageless Eroni Clarke at centre, who scored a delightful try after a 40m run.

And Arlidge's long touch-finders kept frustrating Northland.