Northland finally ends premier-grade hoodoo

Northland ended more than three years of premier provincial rugby torment by beating Counties Manukau 21-17 in nail-biting fashion in south Auckland today.

A damning record of 30 consecutive losses came to a halt for the Northlanders at Mt Smart Stadium, the players raising their arms as one when the final whistle blew on a tense Air New Zealand Cup pool B match.

Defending their line stoically for the final minutes into the wind, Northland were worthy of their long-awaited success, scoring three tries to two.

Two of them went to the game's best players -- first five-eigth David Holwell and No 8 Jake Paringatai -- Northland stalwarts more desperate than anyone to get the monkey off their back.

With Counties Manukau flanker Jimmy Maher in the sinbin for persistent infringing, Paringatai pushed off Super 14 centre Niva Ta'auso to score with nine minutes remaining.

It was the game's sixth change of lead and prompted Counties Manukau to launch a late assault.

Desperate Northland flanker Justin Collins was shown a yellow card in the final minute and moments later Counties Manukau lock Kristian Ormsby barged over the tryline after the hooter but was held up.

From the resulting 5m scrum Counties Manukau botched their move to remain winless through three games.

It was a notable improvement by the hosts on their 29-51 loss to Hawke's Bay a week ago but will leave them frustrated.

They certainly had their chances on the back of a dominant scrum and with first five-eighth Blair Feeney directing play well.

Feeney opened the scoring with a penalty but his opposite Holwell jinked through to set up the opening try to centre Josh Levi.

Ta'auso put Counties back in front when he strolled through wafer-thin defence in the 20th minute.

However, Levi returned the favour for Holwell to score 5min before the break to give Northland a 14-10 advantage.

Feeney sliced over as momentum swung again but Maher's indiscretion gave Northland the opening they were looking for.

They had lost their opening matches against Southland, Canterbury and Otago and will hope their winning ways can continue against Hawke's Bay next week.

Counties Manukau will travel to Waikato.

- NZPA