Auckland beat Manawatu in Air NZ Cup opening round

Auckland 41 Manawatu 10

Manawatu lost by 31 points but they were far from disgraced, as widely predicted, by premier provincial rugby champions Auckland in today's Air New Zealand Cup.

Despite struggling in the second division last season and recent problems that led to former Wellington coach Dave Rennie replacing Charlie McAlister as coach, Manawatu competed right through their first game of the revamped competition and provided some thrilling moments for their home crowd in Palmerston North.

Auckland, showing their class, scored two tries in the last 12 minutes to win 41-10 but the margin reflected little of the spirited battle Manawatu put up for 80 minutes.

Outscored seven tries to one, they provided some anxious time for last year's champions when they dominated forward play for substantial periods, recycled the ball efficiently and raided the Auckland goal line several times.

Only errors at vital times, exposing their inexperience at the new level of the game, and some solid defence from Auckland, prevented them scoring more than one try.

In the lead-up to hooker Rob Foreman's five-pointer at the start of the third quarter, Manawatu kept Auckland on the backfoot for the best part of 15 minutes.

Auckland will argue they were a man short then, with a dazed Jerome Kaino in the sinbin for being part of Auckland's persistent technical fouls, but Manawatu had dominated before his departure 18 minutes into the second half.

Lock Lisiate Fa'aoso took a clean lineout ball and the Manawatu forwards drove low and hard, with Foreman, who had moved from Wairarapa-Bush, peeling off the maul to score.

Auckland, however, showed a lot of fine team and individual touches, moving the ball with speed through the backline to score some classy tries by both the backs and the forwards.

Centre Jamie Helleur crossed twice, with prop Saimone Taumoepeau, lock Joe Tekori, fullback Brent Ward, No 8 Brad Mika and replacement first five-eighth Lachie Munro scoring one each.

Big halfback Taniela Moa, back from injury, was major force in the Auckland attack with his ability to find the gap around the rucks and mauls.

He would often dart from the fringes to start Auckland's attacking momentum, with players such as Tasesa Lavea, Isa Nacewa and lock Kurtis Haiu adding the subtle touches to open the way for the try-scorers.

Auckland 41 (Jamie Helleur 2, Saimone Taumoepeau, Joe Tekori, Brent Ward, Brad Mika, Lachie Munro tries; Brent Ward 2 con, Isa Nacewa con)
Manawatu 10 (Rob Foreman try; Graham Smith pen, con).
HT: 24-3.

- NZPA