ITM Cup
Tasman, Auckland finish week with impressive wins
ESPN Staff
August 24, 2014
Tasman's Bryce Heem runs with the ball © Getty Images
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Bay of Plenty 27-56 Tasman

Tasman rounded out the second round of the 2014 ITM Cup season with a stunning performance to defeat Championship battlers Bay of Plenty in Mount Maunganui, scoring seven tries to claim second spot on the Premiership ladder.

Marty Banks starred for the promoted Makos with a try in his personal tally of 26 points after Bay of Plenty had opened the scoring through Kane Hames in the opening minute. Tasman replied within five minutes through Quentin Macdonald and crossed three more times to bag their bonus point before half-time.

Joe Royal and Martino Nemani scored either side of the break to give the Steamers hope, but the Makos scored three more tries in the second half, including scores from Banks and David Kaetau Havili in the final five minutes to gloss the result.

Charles Piutau takes on the Manawatu defence © Getty Images
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Manawatu 7-35 Auckland

Auckland have responded to a heavy opening-round loss in the ITM Cup with a 35-7 demolition of Manawatu in Palmerston North. Boasting a side laden with Super Rugby players, Auckland rebounded from their 48-9 drubbing from defending champions Canterbury with a four-try performance based on forward control.

Manawatu, who opened with a 28-23 win over Championship rivals Northland were brought back to earth with a thud as they could breach the line of their Premiership only after the full-time hooter when reserve prop Chris Eves barrelled over.

They spent much of the game living off scraps and dealing with raids from the classy Auckland back division, led by All Blacks pair Francis Saili and Charles Piutau, who were given plenty of front-foot ball. Manawatu were hammered in the penalty count and played 20 minutes with 14 men after yellow cards to prop Hubert Buydens late in the first half and reserve halfback Kayne Hammington late in the second.

The second indiscretion proved most costly, allowing second five-eighth Saili and his hard-running older brother, No.8 Peter Saili, to both cross bring up a bonus point. The first-half tries went first five-eighth Gareth Anscombe and wing George Moala. Wales-bound Anscombe score 18 points, the rest coming from his boot, before making way for Simon Hickey in the 57th minute.

Counties Manukau back-rower Jordan Taufua was strong as the Steelers retained the Ranfurly Shield © Getty Images
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Counties Manukau 29-25 Otago

Counties Manukau have completed their sixth ITM Cup defence of the Ranfurly Shield, defeating Otago one year to the day after the Razorbacks had won the Log o' Wood for the first time in 56 years.

Otago opened the scoring through Liam Coltman, but the Steelers hit back with two converted tries to lead by four points at the break. Counties looked to be easing to victory when back-rower Jordan Taufua and replacement fly-half Michael Stanley crossed for another two tries either side of a penalty from Otago's Hayden Parker, but they secured the win only when Stanley kicked a penalty on debut after Aki Seiuli had crossed to cap a fine set move for the visitors.

Otago's Fa'asiu Fuatai gassed Frank Halai on the right wing to ice a slick backline move and ensure a nervous final three minutes for the Steelers. Parker missed the conversion, meaning the Razorbacks had to score another try to win, and that proved key as the visitors won a penalty as they finished hard. They could not go for goal, and then spilled the ball forward in contact to ensure the Ranfurly Shield remained in the Steelers' hands.

Northland 35-5 Wellington

Northland have run riot against Wellington at Toll Stadium in Whangarei, scoring five tries to one as the Lions slumped to their second heavy defeat in as many weeks.

Wellington, last season's premiership runners-up to Canterbury after losing only once during the league season, now have a points differential of -42 after losing to Waikato last week, and their campaign already lies in tatters. Championship side Northland, conversely, rebounded strongly from their opening five-point home loss to Manawatu, and they shredded the Lions with a combination of uncompromising forward play and rapier movement in the backs to make the most of their opportunities.

Fijian winger Jone Macilai-Tori and flanker Dan Pryor each bagged a brace of tries, the powerhouse back benefiting from Lions mistakes in the opening quarter, but the Taniwha crafted their other three scores and the back-rower bagged the best of the lot in sprinting down the right sideline in the final minute to cap a 100-metre breakaway.

Hawke's Bay 29-26 Taranaki

Hawke's Bay playmaker Ihaia West's 82nd-minute drop goal edged the Magpies to a narrow win over Taranaki in their cross-over match at McLean Park in Napier on Friday.

Premiership team Taranaki, who opened their account with a 9-9 draw against Counties Manukau last week, looked to have salvaged a draw when Marty McKenzie's try levelled the scores with three minutes remaining. But West, whose accurate tactical kicking and incisive pace played a huge part in the win, calmly potted the winning field goal from 20 metres.

Powerful Fiji-born winger Seta Tamanivalu opened Taranaki's account after seven minutes, but opportunites were limited after that and it fell to the accurate boot of fullback Cody Rei to keep them in touch. Fullback Ryan Tongia crossed for Championship side Hawke's Bay after 13 minutes, hooker Ash Dixon setting it up with a storming run up the middle from West's well-placed kick.

Richard Buckman, who missed Hawke's Bay's opening 35-15 loss to Tasman with injury, added a second for the Magpies four minutes from half-time, picked out to perfection by West with a raking kick to the wing. West completed an excellent first half with a 55-metre penalty to give Hawke's Bay a 21-16 half-time lead.

Tongia's second try jolted a stop-start second half into life after 68 minutes, giving the Bay a 26-19 lead, before McKenzie's try and West's drop goal provided a high-octane finish.

Waikato 27-58 Canterbury

Canterbury's charge towards a seventh straight ITM rugby title gathered momentum on Friday as the defending champions thumped Waikato 58-27 in Hamilton. Canterbury struck early with pace and power, punishing some poor Waikato kicking and lacklustre tackling when hooker Codie Taylor barrelled across after barely a minute.

Fresh up from mauling Auckland 48-9 last week, Canterbury continued to pile on the points with tries to flanker Matt Todd and lock Matt Symons giving them a 17-0 lead inside 10 minutes.

Waikato, who had looked slick in downing Wellington 37-25 last week, hit back with a try to wing Joe Webber against the run of play and a couple of penalties including a 60-metre monster from fullback Albert Nikoro. But Canterbury continued to dominate possession and territory, looking particularly impressive at set-piece time, and picked up the bonus-point try when Milford Keresoma scored three minutes before half-time to take a 30-13 lead into the break.

Waikato drew first blood when play resumed as half-back Brad Webber dotted down for the first of his two tries, but Canterbury continued to play with accuracy and patience and Tyler Bleyendaal and Patrick Osborne scored in rapid succession before Webber picked up his second try of the night.

Canterbury finished strongly, coach Scott Robertson making good use of his bench as debutants Jack Goodhue and Tom Sanders crossed to wrap up the eight-try win.

Waikato's Albert Nikoro boots massive 59 metre penalty kick

Southland Stags' Josh Bekhuis and Willis Halaholo celebrate victory © Getty Images
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North Harbour 21-25 Southland

Lima Sopoaga kicked Southland to victory over North Harbour, the former Wellington Lions fly-half landing six penalties and a conversion just a week after claiming 19 points when the Stags opened their campaign by defeating Bay of Plenty.

North Harbour outscored Southland two tries to one, both in the opening 10 minutes as they made a hot start, but Sopoaga got the Stags home on the back of a simple game plan of field position, draw a penalty and keep the scoreboard ticking over.

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