Auckland's reign

Manu Samoa ends Auckland's reign

WESTERN Samoa ended Auck land’s 13-year unbeaten run against international touring rugby union sides with a magnificent 15-13 win at Eden Park on April 23. Western Samoa was simply too fast, too strong and too good for a game Auckland team in their Super 10 competition encounter.

Auckland last lost to an interna tional side at Eden Park in 1981 when beaten by South Africa. Western Samoa’s two-tries-to-one victory fol lowed a 50-point loss to Auckland two years ago and 12 months ago it lost to the New Zealand provincial cham pions 18-10. Both sides began tentatively until Auckland scored the first points when Western Samoa was penalised for a ruck infringement and Shane Howarth landed the penalty.

Four minutes later the Samoans conceded another penalty and Howarth was again on target.

The home side extended its lead after right winger John Kirwan fed Lee Stensness, who fired out a cut out pass which centre Martin Stanley grabbed to score a converted try.

Down 0-13 Western Samoa soon replied. Captain Peter Fatialofa was again prominent as he launched another bruising run on the right flank to splinter the Auckland de fence. Halfback Tu Nu’uali’itia spun the ball to the right and winger Brian Lima went in under the crossbar to score a try converted by five-eighth Darren Kellett.

The visitors were quickly on attack again when prop George Latu was hauled down short of the Auckland tryline and Nu’uali’itia scooped up the ball and dived over. Western Samoa went to the break trailing by just on one point at 12-13. Kellett had earlier failed to kick three penalties within his reach but finally gained some confidence with a 30-metre drop goal in the 52nd minute to give Western Samoa a 15-13 lead. □