Rugby: Auckland claim first ITM win

TJ Perenara of Wellington kicks under pressure. Photo / Getty Images

Auckland 21
Wellington 17

Auckland have beaten Wellington 21-17 in their round three ITM Cup match at Westpac Stadium in Wellington.

The first half was tightly contested, but Auckland coped better with the wind and rain in the second half and dominated proceedings.

The match started with a flurry of high kicks - both teams trying to trouble the other in the dreadful conditions.

Within the opening seven minutes, both teams had scored converted tries.

Auckland got off to the best possible start when Nathan Hughes drove over from a couple of metres out.

But Wellington immediately hit back. Dane Coles, who had been so impressive in the victory over Taranaki in round one, planted the ball over the goalline after some good work by the Wellington forwards.

Tom McCartney came close to scoring for the visitors on 20 minutes, but referee Glen Jackson denied the hooker.

Auckland continued to hammer away near the Wellington try line, but it was Sopoaga who edged Wellington ahead with a 43m kick on 28 minutes.

Gareth Anscombe evened things up with a penalty with eight minutes of the half left. He pushed Auckland ahead with another penalty as the buzzer sounded.

Anscombe picked up where he left off minutes into the second half, nailing his third penalty to stretch Auckland's lead to six.

Wellington struggled to break out of their own half and Auckland capitalized on that pressure with 60 minutes played. Charles Piutau finished off a Blues move in the corner after Hadleigh Parkes broke in the midfield.

When Wellington finally made it into Auckland territory, it paid dividends. Captain Jeremy Thrush narrowed the gap with a bulldozing try on 74 minutes, which Sopoaga converted.

There was hope of a comeback for the home side, but Auckland held on for a well-deserved victory.

Auckland's win also secured them the Fred Lucas Memorial Cup.

Auckland 21 (Hughes, Piutau tries, Anscombe con, 3 pen) Wellington 17 (Coles, Thrush tries, Sopoaga 2 con, pen). Halftime: 13-10.

- Herald Online