Auckland keep their season alive

Man down! Auckland's win was a costly one

Auckland have kept their Air New Zealand Cup campaign alive - just - by snatching a 25-20 win over Bay of Plenty in Rotorua on Friday.

The victory, Auckland's fourth of the season, may come at a cost as Joe Rokocoko (whose comeback was short-lived), Daniel Braid and Lachie Munro were forced from the field and are in doubt for a huge Shield assignment against competition front-runners Wellington in Round Eight.

It seemed inconceivable that Auckland would win this game as they suffered setback after setback with Bay of Plenty, inspired by a passionate crowd of 12,000, setting about their work in impressive fashion.

But the visiting Aucklanders fought valiantly in the second half to secure a comeback victory against all odds.

Down 13-3 at the break, Auckland were well and truly on the back foot in the opening half, losing one player after another to injury.

First it was Braid, followed by Rokocoko, and then Munro - who looked in the most strife of the three, and was rushed to hospital with a suspected dislocated shoulder.

The hosts were the first to score with number eight Colin Bourke crashing in off the back of a five metre scrum in the tenth minute.

Munro - still on the field at this stage - struck back with a penalty shot five minutes later before opposite number Mike Delaney kicked one of his own ten minutes out from half-time.

Auckland lost lock Stanley Haukinima to the sin-bin for the final nine minutes of the half - the penalty allowing Delaney to knock another three points over.

With Munro leaving the field in agony with the help of a stretcher, Auckland looked down and out when trailing the Steamers by ten points at half-time.

But Auckland turned the fortunes around five minutes into the second half when David Smith bolted down the wing to cut the deficit to five points.

A try to Auckland prop Paea Fa'anunu locked the game up at 13-all, but Bay of Plenty captain Tanerau Latimer extended his team's home advantage with his converted try.

The match see-sawed back to 20-all as Onosai Auva'a was rewarded for an outstanding performance in replacing Braid with Auckland's third, which Ben Atiga converted for his first success of the match.

The play drifted from end to end in the dying stages but an opportunist effort saw Auckland take the points as Auva'a notched his double.

Smith hacked a hopeful kick ahead and sprinted through, toed ahead again and Auva'a showed considerable pace to back up and score the match-winner.

Auckland coach Shane Howarth will be hoping Isaia Toeava is allowed to play by the All Blacks coaches next week, otherwise Howarth has a bare cupboard when it comes to picking a fly-half for next week's Ranfurly Shield defence.

The scorers:

For Bay of Plenty:

Tries: Bourke, Latimer

Cons: Delany 2

Pens: Delany 2

For Auckland:

Tries: Auva'a 2, Smith, Fa'anunu

Con: Atiga

Pen: Munro

Bay of Plenty: 15 Zar Lawrence, 14 Lance MacDonald, 13 Corey Aporo, 12 Nigel Hunt, 11 Jason Hona, 10 Mike Delany, 9 Ruki Tipuna, 8 Colin Bourke, 7 Luke Braid, 6 Tanerau Latimer (c), 5 Culum Retallick, 4 John Moore, 3 James McGougan, 2 John Pareanga, 1 Joe Savage.

Replacements: 16 Dean Elmiger, 17 Matt Wallis, 18 Josh Katene, 19 Aidan Kuka, 20 Kelly Haimona, 21 Paula Asaeli, 22 Toby Arnold.

Auckland: 15 Jamie Helleur, 14 Joe Rokocoko, 13 Ben Atiga (c), 12 Benson Stanley, 11 David Smith, 10 Lachie Munro, 9 Taniela Moa, 8 Peter Saili, 7 Daniel Braid, 6 Dean Budd, 5 Jay Williams, 4 Stan Haukinima, 3 Charlie Faumuina, 2 Tom McCartney, 1 Paea Fa'anunu.

Replacements: 16 Pauliasi Manu, 17 Nick White, 18 Anthony Elisala, 19 Onosa'i Auva'a, 20 Grayson Hart, 21 Winston Stanley, 22 Watisoni Lotawa.

Referee: Josh Noonan

Television match official: Kelvin Deaker