Dopey offences put Bay out of the frame

Auckland halfback Steve Devine stretches in the tackle of Bay flanker Tanerau Latimer for one of his two tries yesterday. Picture / Kenny Rodger

Auckland 45 Bay of Plenty 27

This was a tale of two cards, both yellow, both waved in Bay of Plenty faces a minute apart either side of halftime.

Until referee Steve Walsh gave Bay's loose forwards Nili Latu, then Warren Smith a chance to sit beside each other in the chairs on halfway, the visitors were right in the frame. The Bay were 20-14 ahead and, although Auckland were closing the gap, there were no guarantees their momentum would continue in the second half.

But Auckland grabbed 12 points while the Bay were down to 13 players and eased clear in the final half hour.

Bay's new coach Andre Bell would be fully entitled to give his errant pair a roasting as the cards were both for dopey offences. They've yet to win a game in the Air New Zealand Cup and there was plenty to admire in their first-half effort.

They had hit the game running, first five-eighth Mike Delany slipping through Steve Devine's tackle and setting up sharp-running second five-eighth Cory Aporo for his first try after just a couple of minutes.

Penalties were swapped before Smith, with a deft inside flip from a scrum near the Auckland line, gave Latu an unopposed jog to the posts.

But Smith was already in Walsh's sights for one high tackle which flattened Isa Nacewa and Latu had been making a nuisance of himself as well as things got sparky up front.

So Latu's charging, jumping high tackle on Auckland prop Chris Heard wasn't a smart move right at halftime. Walsh flashed yellow.

A tricky situation became untenable a minute after the restart when Smith collared Derren Witcombe high. Walsh stuck his mitt in his pocket again and despite valiant defensive efforts, the Bay had no hope of stemming the Auckland tide.

Until Aporo got the final try of the match, Auckland rattled on 39 unanswered points, with a brace of tries apiece to fullback Brent Ward, halfback Devine and, most impressively, young wing David Smith.

He looks a real talent. His first try came after Nacewa, Ben Atiga, who had a good game, and Brad Mika handled to put the 20-year-old clear. Confronted by Bay fullback Charles Baxter, he turned on the after-burner and swerved round him expertly.

His second came after neat work by replacement No 10 Lachie Munro, and Atiga, leaving him a 35m run, with a dummy thrown in, to the line.

The best of the rest was Ward's second, after Sam Tuitupou, Smith and Ward, with a cleverly angled run, sliced through the Bay defence. Auckland coach Pat Lam wasn't happy with the muddled first half effort and although things picked up after a halftime chat, he has had happier days watching from above.

"The only thing we got out of that was the five points," he said. "We were flat, our skill level wasn't accurate, so we've got a bit of work to do."

Smith caught the eye, but Lam's praise was coloured with caution.

"There's still a long way to go, but he's got a great attitude," he said. "He puts all the work in and he's in great nick. But you're only as good as your last game and he's got to step up again, if selected, next week."