Impressive Wellington see off Auckland

Wellington 30 Auckland 15

Wellington are within touching distance of their first national provincial rugby crown since 2000 after eliminating defending champions Auckland with a pulsating 30-15 victory at Eden Park tonight.

The enigmatic Wellington team will face either Waikato or Otago for the inaugural Air New Zealand Cup title next Saturday after constructing another compelling performance.

Stirring breakout tries to Neemia Tialata and Jerry Collins sealed the victory in the semifinal after Auckland made a strong start to the second spell, steadily eating into a 5-18 halftime deficit after a stunning individual try to Isaia Toeava.

The All Blacks centre's 44th-minute touchdown and conversion and penalty to Ben Atiga dragged Auckland back into the contest at 15-18 entering the final quarter before Wellington pulled clear with a brace of tries normally associated with the free-wheeling former champions.

Tialata powered over in the left-hand corner after a 70m counter-attack to quell Auckland's resurgence and, when Collins grabbed a pop pass from Cory Jane after a splendid burst down the sideline, Wellington had effectively sealed the outcome.

Jimmy Gopperth's angled conversion ensured Auckland needed to score three times to prolong their season and they never threatened that as Wellington closed down the contest expertly.

Wellington, who were involved in some of the more dreary matches of the new competition, have timed their run perfectly, starting with a 36-23 demolition of Canterbury in the quarterfinals last weekend.

Auckland made an ominous start when Nacewa cut back on the angle to wrong foot Piri Weepu and open the scoring in the second minute after an expansive attacking foray.

The early strike proved an aberration for the home side as they were stymied for the remainder of the half, rarely threatening Wellington until a late flurry of activity as the hooter loomed.

Wellington swiftly recovered from their early setback as Conrad Smith levelled the scores in the seventh minute when a Weepu quick tap caught the retreating Aucklanders backtracking 10m from their line.

Auckland's aversion to kicking themselves out of potential trouble then cost them dearly as Wellington grabbed the first half ascendancy through a superb try to Tana Umaga in the 11th minute.

An attempted breakout from deep inside their territory broke down when Atiga lost possession and the ball squirted clear to Smith, who flicked it on to Jane.

From a standing start, the wing eluded Joe Rokocoko before supplying an inside ball to Umaga, who made an unimpeded beeline for the goalposts.

Gopperth converted and added two handy penalties to give the visitors a handy 18-5 buffer before conceding the advantage of a stiff breeze.

Auckland needed to strike first after the break and duly delivered when Toeava showed a glimpse of the class the All Blacks selectors maintain he has when he beat five tackles -- including attempts by Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Gopperth and Weepu -- before diving over behind over the tryline four minutes after the resumption.

Wellington's discipline started to falter as referee Paul Honiss detected a stream of infringements and it seemed the momentum was shifting until Tialata and Collins combined to ensure a happy ending for their side.

The only concern for Wellington -- and possibly All Blacks management -- was a late ankle injury to Tialata.

Waikato host Otago in Hamilton tomorrow night.

- NZPA