KEY POINTS:
Welsh import Jonathan Spratt played a key role in lifting Taranaki off the base of the Air NZ Cup rugby table in their 39-21 win over Northland in New Plymouth tonight.
Spratt scored a hat-trick of tries and his incisive running and quick passing at centre helped pierce Northland's defence after the visitors had started the game promisingly.
Northland, desperate to avoid the New Zealand Rugby Union's hovering axe when it chops back the premier domestic competition next season, bolstered their playing squad tonight with three Auckland loan players and dropped prop Tony Coughlan.
With next Friday being the deadline for Northland to offer feedback on the NZRU plan, the players had their final say on the field today and did little to help their cause.
Taranaki - like Northland winless since the first round - played catch-up for most of the first spell. But they took a 18-16 lead just before halftime when Spratt scored following a period of concerted forward pressure near the Northland line.
With the wind behind them and deft kicking by first five David Holwell, Northland had early territorial advantage.
Penalty exchanges put Northland 6-3 ahead and they stretched that out when halfback James Rodley dummied his way to score between the posts.
But Taranaki quickly countered when lock Jason Eaton loped off at pace in midfield to set up wing Paul Perez for a try.
Taranaki strung several fluent passing moves together, but it took some forward grunt to set up Spratt's try soon. They kept up Northland on the rack early in the second spell and were rewarded by two quick tries, to Jack Cameron and Spratt's second for the bonus point and 32-16 lead.
Northland bounced back when Holwell set marauding wing Fetu Vainikolo off on a run to the line, breaking four tackles before dotting down for a great individual try.
But solid Taranaki defence kept Northland at bay for the rest of the game, and Spratt pounced on a spilled Northland ball to score his third try at the death.
Taranaki 39 (Jonathan Spratt 3, Paul Perez, Jack Cameron tries; Willie Ripia 2 pen, 4 con) Northland 21 (James Rodley, Fetu Vainikolo tries; David Holwell 3 pen, 1 con) Halftime: 18-16
- NZPA
