Holwell puts boot into inaccurate Taranaki

Northland 23 Taranaki 17

Northland notched their first win against established first division opposition since 2002 as Taranaki's Air New Zealand Cup rugby campaign continued to falter in New Plymouth tonight.

Northland, who beat the promoted Counties-Manukau in pool play, claimed first blood in the second phase repechage round with a nervy 23-17 victory at Yarrow Stadium.

Taranaki scored arguably the try of the game through Miah Nikora but there was little else for the sparse crowd to be enthused about until the dying stages as veteran first five-eighth David Holwell guided Northland home by passing his own milestone.

When the reliable goalkicker converted Daniel Goodwin's 37th-minute try Holwell became just the second non-All Black to post 2000 points in first-class rugby.

Holwell joined former Northland stalwart Warren Johnstone as one of New Zealand's most accurate marksmen, while Taranaki coach Kieran Crowley was left to rue his own kicker's fallibilities as handy chances went begging.

Nikora hooked two handy opportunities wide early in the second spell and replacement Scott Ireland also struck the post twice from close range as Taranaki failed to capitalise on Northland's indiscipline on the run home.

Carrying a 23-7 lead into the final quarter, Northland prevailed despite finishing an enterprising though error-strewn game a man down after wing Matt Faleuka was sinbinned for an early tackle with 10 minutes remaining.

Referee Vinnie Munro neglected to award a penalty try when Taranaki were thwarted by the cynical foul but the home side crossed moments later when dangerous second five-eighth Lifemi Mafi crashed over.

An unmarked Michael Tagicakibau crossed on the flank vacated by Faleuka with three minutes to play but Ireland's conversion attempt was off target.

Holwell nailed five-from-five attempts at goal while Taranaki's duo managed just one-from-six as Northland banked four valuable competition points to enhance their chances of progressing to the quarterfinals.

Holwell opened the scoring with a penalty in the sixth minute but Taranaki looked the more dangerous early, no more so than when halfback Brett Goodin counter-attacked after initially fluffing a chip kick.

Goodin jinked 30m before the ball was eventually transferred to flanker Scott Waldrom, who set Nikora free.

Taranaki butchered an opportunity on halftime when Ireland ignored a three-on-one overlap before dying with the ball, a miss that neatly summed up the home side's woes.

Northland's last win against top flight opposition was in Invercargill against Southland four years ago.

Northland 23 (Daniel Goodwin, Tony Coughlan tries; David Holwell 3 pen, 2 con)
Taranaki 17 (Miah Nikora, Lifemi Mafi, Michael Tagicakibau tries; Nikora con).
HT: 13-7.

-NZPA