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Auckland edged Taranaki 29-28 to go to the top of the Miter 10 Cup Premiership on Saturday after veteran Taranaki mainstay Ben May went unpunished for an alleged blow to Blake Gibson.
Star forward Lachlan Boshier has taken over the Taranaki captaincy after a season-ending injury to Teihorangi Walden and proved once again why he should soon join the broader All Blacks squad for the Rugby Championship in Australia.
Boshier’s signature turnovers and dominance around the ruck frustrated the Premiership contenders, but Salesi Rayasi’s try in the 75th minute stole a spectacular comeback from Auckland at TET Inglewood Stadium. Their record improves to 4-1 before facing reigning champions Tasman next week after outscoring the hosts five attempts to three.
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Salesi Rayasi’s second attempt won a thriller for Auckland.
The eighth Pita Gus Sowakula was excellent for Taranaki as well, but their third loss leaves them on the brink of the Championship semi-finals after five rounds.
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Auckland conceded seven penalties in the first 25 minutes after Hurricanes midfielder Rayasi opened the scoring, but it was the first penalty against Taranaki to be scrutinized by a disciplinary panel.
Referee James Doleman asked his television official (TMO) to analyze what caused Auckland forward Gibson to pull away from a ruck holding his face in the 26th minute.
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Simon Hickey kicked the winning conversion for Auckland to defeat Taranaki 29-28.
Taranaki hooker Ricky Riccitelli was reaching for the ball, his hand close to Gibson’s face, but on closer inspection, an alleged punch from May hit Gibson near his left eye.
After discussing the incident with his TMO, Doleman chose not to punish the tighthead after his left hand struck Gibson in the face and Auckland resumed with the initial penalty awarded for a ruck infraction. The Gibson hit was deemed accidental.
Auckland’s No.7 talisman was fine to keep playing and his teammates didn’t seem overly outraged, but the incident brought Auckland to life.
At 23-5, Auckland scored three unanswered attempts on either side of halftime to gain momentum heading into the final 28 minutes, still trailing by one point after Auckland’s first five-eighths Harry Plummer lost three conversions. difficult.
The home crowd groaned as Auckland winger AJ Lam’s second attempt, an interception after a loose pass from Stephen Perofeta, saw Taranaki concede a fourth for Auckland’s bonus point when they were close to third.
Lam intercepted the pass before running 80 meters, but Taranaki went ahead 28-22 with 12 minutes to go after Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens’ good shot from a good attack.
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Taranaki Josh Lord is dejected after the final whistle.
Auckland regained the lead in the final minutes after Rayasi’s second try, converted by Simon Hickey, and his determined defense kept Taranaki out to death, as he did to beat Bay of Plenty 20-16 last Friday.
Rayasi, after scoring a game-winning double against Bay of Plenty, finished in the first minute with another outstanding individual try.
Taranaki first five Perofeta was punished for a poor first kick when he was quickly returned by Auckland, Rayasi then played as middle, catching the sleeping Taranaki defense and breaking the left before skinning Perofeta on the touchline.
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Taranaki congratulating Jayson Potroz, right, on one of his attempts.
Twenty-three unanswered points from Jayson Potroz soon erased Auckland’s lead as Taranaki’s fullback swooped in for the home team’s first two downs.
Auckland was paying the price for mistakes and poor discipline with Potroz’s trusty boot converting three first-half penalties, but the visitors finished strong before the break and were back in the competition when blocking Jack Whetton crossed the line.
Jonathan Ruru’s excellent discharge for Lam’s first attempt at the right corner was the perfect start to the second half with Taranaki’s lead to 23-17.
Auckland’s two wingers’ doubles secured another narrow victory for them and Rayasi was their hero again.
TAKE A LOOK
Auckland 29 (Salesi Rayasi 2, Jack Whetton, AJ Lam 2 attempts; Harry Plummer, Simon Hickey with) Taranaki 28 (Jayson Potroz 2, Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens tries; Potroz 2 scam, 3 pens). HT: 12-23.
MVP Points: Pita Gus Sowakula 3, Salesi Rayasi 2, Lachlan Boshier 1.
