Rugby: Ponies receive fright

Second-five Leo Taliu dotted down for Ponsonby. Photo / Getty Images

Ponsonby were given a rare fright by Te Papapa-Mt Wellington in Auckland club rugby yesterday but held their nerve for a hard-fought 37-26 win at Cox's Bay Reserve.

The win retains the Fred Allen Challenge Cup for Ponies but, if a couple of passes had stuck for Te Papapa-Mt Wellington, the outcome may have been different.

The visitors, inspired by a masterful display by Auckland halfback Taniela Moa, jumped out to an early 14-3 lead after tries to Pat Vainikolo and Moa.

The usually calm Ponsonby players looked rattled against the massive defence launched by Te Papapa-Mt Wellington.

Ponsonby finally put some phases together after 25 minutes and following a barnstorming run by No 8 Chris Lowrey, second-five Leo Taliu crashed between the posts to give Brent Williams a simple conversion and cut the deficit to 14-10.

Winger Tevita Tuipolotu scored five minutes later to extend Te Papapa-Mt Wellington's lead to 21-10, but they lost their discipline before halftime.

It resulted in two more Williams penalties, which reduced the gap to 21-16 at the break.

London Irish-bound Daniel Bowden made an immediate impact off the bench for Ponsonby, racing 50m to set up an attacking ruck outside Te Papapa-Mt Wellington's tryline.

Ponsonby's French winger Olivier Sirven kicked through and won the race to score a fine try.

Williams converted from the touchline to put his team in front for the first time and Ponsonby were in again 10 minutes later when blindside flanker Pom Simona finished off a back row move from an attacking scrum.

Up 30-21, Ponsonby began to take advantage of a tiring Te Papapa-Mt Wellington scrum. Referee Chris Peoples then had enough of a series of sloppy high shots and, in a crucial move, sent Moa to the sin bin.

Prop Richard Tonga made use of the extra man to score and give Ponsonby a comfortable 37-21 lead, but Te Papapa-Mt Wellington were not finished yet.

Moa returned to spark a sweeping movement over 70m, which was finished off by Tuipolotu for his second try.

In other games, Grammar Carlton shut out Teachers Eastern 40-0, while Otahuhu beat College Rifles 19-18. Waitemata made it two losses for Marist with a 28-12 win.