Thriller a game made in heaven

First division

As the Auckland team celebrated, there were tears at Carisbrook - tears that Otago lost yet another close one and tears of joy at one of the NPC classics.

This was the match of the season, one of the great games of provincial rugby and, when Iliesa Tanivula scored after the final siren to win it for Auckland, it was impossible to harbour recriminations against Otago, beaten 39-32.

Both sides played themselves to a standstill in an enthralling, pulsating contest in which the lead changed six times in a game that seemed destined for extra time.

But Auckland, as they had done throughout, attacked until the end and clinched a thrilling victory.

Bryce Williams won the final lineout, it seemed likely Tasesa Lavea would drop for goal, but he moved the ball to Tanivula who slipped the desperate lunge of Glen Horton and burst through the last-gasp efforts of Jeremy Aldworth and Neil Brew to score under the posts.

There was desolation for Otago who, for the ninth time in 12 years, had been beaten in an NPC semifinal or final. And there was jubilation for Auckland who, already having taken the Ranfurly Shield off Canterbury, will now defend their NPC title against Wellington in the capital on Saturday night.

Auckland deserved their win because of the superior speed and skills of their backs and the controlling influence of Lavea, possibly an All Black of the future, at first five-eighth.

The backline, reshuffled in the absence of Ben Atiga and Sam Tuitupou, was still a lethal attacking force.

But Otago, despite having little possession, trailed only 19-15 at halftime and, when outstanding prop Carl Hayman burst over for a try after a break by Josh Blackie 15 minutes from the end, they were ahead 32-29 and in sight of a home final.

But Brent Ward levelled the scores with a penalty a few minutes later and then, with the coaches from both sides preparing for extra time, came the dramatic finale.

"There were no losers in that game," ecstatic Auckland captain Xavier Rush said later. "Both sides were winners. We just came away with more points."

Rush said Auckland's plan had been to move the ball away from the strong Otago pack.

"It's a pretty ruthless pack and we didn't want to get into too much of an arm wrestle with them.

"We wanted to play a bit of hit-and-run. It was one hell of a game."

Otago made the most of their chances in the first half during which Auckland dominated possession and territory.

Blackie scored from a lineout drive on Simon Maling and Brew finished off the second try, after eight phases, when he stepped inside Orene Ai'i.

And, when Otago scored the first try of the second spell to take the lead 22-19 after a helter-skelter period of non-stop action, it seemed the home side might be about to assume control.

But Auckland are a side of grit as well as glamour.

- NZPA

NPC points table