Auckland loosen up for semifinals by eliminating BoP

Doug Howlett splits the Bay of Plenty defence to run in a try. Phil Walter / Getty Images

Auckland 46 Bay of Plenty 14

Auckland showed enough flashes of flamboyance to hint at fireworks to come as they ended Bay of Plenty's Air New Zealand Cup rugby season today.

Auckland won their quarterfinal 46-14 at Eden Park in Auckland, scoring six tries in the process of advancing to next weekend's top four playoffs.

They rebuffed some patchy Bay of Plenty resistance with a resounding second-half performance after leading 15-14 at the interval.

The match had threatened to develop into an Auckland benefit after the home side dominated the early exchanges to lead 12-0 after just 15 minutes.

Despite playing into a significant wind, Auckland shut Bay of Plenty out of the opening quarter, with fine tries to winger Doug Howlett and loose forward Jerome Kaino putting the visitors on the back foot.

Howlett crossed in the 10th minute after joining the line and finding a good angle, while Kaino scored five minutes later after a neat lineout move featuring hooker Kevin Mealamu and Brad Mika.

While the Bay of Plenty forwards were slow to get in formation near the 22, Mealamu threw short to Mika, who tapped the ball back to the hooker.

Mealamu scampered up the touchline and found Kaino on his inside as Bay of Plenty paid dearly for their forwards' inattention.

Just as it appeared Auckland were to strike minimal resistance, Bay of Plenty sparked into life after No 8 Colin Bourke snapped up a loose pass from centre Isaia Toeava, who found himself trapped in midfield.

Bourke hared away and sent Cory Aporo over for Murray Williams to convert.

Fullback Ben Atiga landed his first penalty in the 28th minute then Williams added the extras again nine minutes before the interval after halfback Jamie Nutbrown charged down a Tasesa Lavea clearance and touched down just inside the dead ball area.

Auckland again had much the better of the opening minutes of the second half as they eased out to 25-14 within six minutes.

Atiga kicked his second penalty then within two minutes he converted a try by Mika, who pushed through some flimsy defence in the midfield.

Auckland tightened their grip further when winger Joe Rokocoko scored a fine try in the 59th minute after being given space down the right flank by Atiga, whose conversion lifted the home side to 32-14.

Bay of Plenty refused to lie down but could not produce the finishing touches to pressure Auckland, who were denied the services of Lavea for 10 minutes after the first five-eighth was sinbinned for a spear tackle on replacement Mike Delany.

Lock Aaron Rameka was held up over the tryline in the 68th minute then flanker Nili Latu lost the ball over the line just two minutes later as the visitors enjoyed their best period of the match.

Auckland sucked up what Bay of Plenty could throw at them, then responded in style when replacement forwards Chris Heard and Kurtis Haiu capped multiple phase counter-attacks with stunning team tries.

The win came at some cost to Auckland, who lost the services of three All Blacks during the match.

Lock Ali Williams, winger Howlett and Toeava all left the field early.

Howlett was taken to hospital for treatment on a medial ligament injury while Toeava limped away in the second spell after earlier clutching his knee in pain.

Auckland 46 (Doug Howlett, Jerome Kaino, Brad Mika, Joe Rokocoko, Chris Heard, Kurtis Haiu tries; Ben Atiga 2 pen, 3 con, Isa Nacewa 2 con)
Bay of Plenty 14 (Cory Aporo, Jamie Nutbrown tries; Murray Williams 2 con).
HT: 15-14.

- NZPA