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Unbeaten Auckland hold off late Taranaki surge to win tense NPC battle

September 22, 2018
Seta Tamanivalu, Taranaki v Waikato. Mitre 10 Cup rugby union, Ranfurly Shield challenge. Yarrow Stadium, New Plymouth. 9 September 2018. Copyright Image: Andy Jackson / www.photosport.nz

Relive 1 NEWS NOW's live coverage of tonight's Mitre 10 Cup match between Taranaki and Auckland at Yarrows Stadium in New Plymouth.

FULLTIME - TARANAKI 30 AUCKLAND 31

86 mins - TARANAKI 30 AUCKLAND 31

Taranaki's Stephen Perofeta shanks his second attempt at goal with his kick going well wide of the goal posts. 

82 mins - TARANAKI 30 AUCKLAND 31

TRY! Taranaki's reserve back Brayton Northcott-Hill goes into score down the left edge, he throws a dummy before powering his over the try line.

Auckland have charged early and Stephen Perofeta misses his shot at goal, he will get another chance at a conversion. 

77 mins: TARANAKI 25 AUCKLAND 31

MISS! Harry Plummer misses a penalty kick from halfway - Taranaki are still in this match.

74 mins: TARANAKI 25 AUCKLAND 31

TRY! Taranaki strike back! Leighton Price has the ball in hand 5m out of Auckland's goal-line and he throws a great inside ball for his skipper Mitch Crosswell to score.

Beaudein Waaka's conversion attempt hits the right upright. Taranaki trail by just six-points and need a converted try to win the match. 

72 mins: TARANAKI 20 AUCKLAND 31

YELLOW CARD! Auckland's right winger Melani Nanai is sent to the bin for coming in from the side at the breakdown and turning the ball over. 

69 mins: TARANAKI 20 AUCKLAND 31

TRY! Auckland's left winger Salesi Rayasi is in again! Taranaki try to run it out of their own 22 and Regan Ware loses the ball with Rayasi pouncing on the loose ball and running in to score under the goal posts.

Harry Plummer adds the extras.

60 mins: TARANAKI 20 AUCKLAND 24

TRY!  Salesi Rayasi strolls over to score after a great set-piece play by Auckland, they shift the ball left and Taranaki are short on their right hand side. Auckland's second-five TJ Faiane runs as a decoy and they opt for a back-door play before spreading the ball to Rayasi who dots down over the left hand side.

Harry Plummer is off target with his kick at goal.

51 mins: TARANAKI 20 AUCKLAND 19

TRY! After a number of attacking charges from the Taranaki forwards at Auckland's goal-line - Tom Florence goes in low and powers his way over to score a crucial try for the home team.

The conversion from Beaudein Waaka is online from out wide as he curves the ball from left to right over the crossbar. 

40 mins: TARANAKI 13 AUCKLAND 19

And we are back underway with Taranaki kicking off deep towards Auckland.

HALFTIME - TARANAKI 13 AUCKLAND 19

38 mins: TARANAKI 13 AUCKLAND 19

TRY! After being denied a try earlier Jonathan Ruru can thank his teammate Akira Ioane for the assist. Ioane darts down the right edge before making the perfect pass for Ruru to score down the right edge. Auckland hit the front.

Harry Plummer lands his kick from out wide, bringing the ball around from right to left and through the uprights.

37 mins: TARANAKI 13 AUCKLAND 12

THREE!  Beaudein Waaka edges Taranaki in front after landing a penalty kick from about 25m out on the angle.

31 mins: TARANAKI 10 AUCKLAND 12

TRY! Harry Plummer sees acres of space behind the Taranaki defenders and he stabs in a grubber kick which sits up perfectly for Tumua Manu who dots down for Auckland's second try of the match.

Harry Plummer lands his kick from out wide, curving the ball from left to right over the goal posts.

22 mins: TARANAKI 10 AUCKLAND 5

TRY! Stephen Perofeta spots a hole in Auckland's defence and charges into it, he gets tackled inside Auckland's 22. Seta Tamanivalu spots some space down the blindside and goes himself. He bumps off the Auckland tackler Jordan Trainor with ease and dives over to score down the right edge. 

The conversion from the sideline by Beaudein Waaka is successful.

15 mins: TARANAKI 3 AUCKLAND 5

MISS! Taranaki's Beaudein Waaka misses his penalty kick at goal from over 25m out after Auckland were penalised for an offside play.

11 mins: TARANAKI 3 AUCKLAND 5

THREE! Taranaki are on the score-board after Beaudein Waaka's kick at goal goes soaring through the uprights.

8 mins: TARANAKI 0 AUCKLAND 5

MISS!  Beaudein Waaka's penalty kick at goal for Taranaki from over 40m out is off target.

5 mins: TARANAKI 0 AUCKLAND 5

SCRUM! Taranaki are doing good on attack as they rumble into Auckland's half, but they lose the ball forward just outside Auckland's 22. Stephen Perofeta threw a little inside pass to his flanker Tom Florence who couldn't hold onto the pill.

TARANAKI 0 AUCKLAND 5 

TRY! It only takes 29 seconds and Akira Ioane has scored the first five-pointer, dotting over down the left hand corner.Troubling signs for Taranaki.

Harry Plummer misses his conversion attempt from the sideline.

KICK-OFF! And we are underway! Taranaki fumble the ball on their own 22m line.

TEAMS

Taranaki: 1 Chris Gawler, 2 Ricky Riccitelli, 3 Reuben O'Neill, 4 Jarrad Hoeata, 5 Leighton Price, 6 Pita Sowakula, 7 Tom Florence, 8 Mitch Crosswell, 9 Brendon Leonard, 10 Stephen Perofeta, 11 Manasa Mataele, 12 Teihorangi Walden, 13 Seta Tamanivalu, 14 Regan Ware, 15 Beaudein Waaka.

Reserves: 16   Donald Maka, 17 Jared Proffit, 18 Kyle Stewart, 19 Tupou Vaai, 20 Jack White, 21 Logan Crowley, 22 Ciarhan Matoe, 23 Brayton Northcott-Hill.

Auckland: 1 Ezekiel Lindenmuth, 2 Robbie Abel, 3 Marcel Renata, 4 Faatiga Lemalu, 5 Jack Whetton, 6 Evan Olmstead, 7 Dalton Papali'i, 8 Akira Ioane, 9 Jonathan Ruru, 10 Harry Plummer, 11 Salesi Rayasi, 12 TJ Faiane, 13 Tumua Manu, 14 Melani Nanai, 15 Jordan Trainor.

Reserves: 16 Mike Sosene-Feagai, 17 Jarred Adams, 18 Marco Fepulea'i, 19 Lyndon Dunshea, 20 Hoskins Sotutu, 21 Jacob Umaga, 22 Tanielu Tele'a.

86 mins - TARANAKI 30 AUCKLAND 31

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