Hawkes Bay v Auckland

[Higgins]

And here comes an almost certain three nil with West to attempt a penalty from a real handy position

[Higgins]

A clear offside right in front of the referee in front of the posts by Auckland No 6 from a driving maul - not awarded for some reason.....................

[African Monkey]

You guys playing the far better rugby so far. Deserved lead for Hawkes Bay.

[Higgins]

TRY HB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ihaia West charges down a clearing kick byJono West and scores a much appreciated try (at least in this lounge anyway) Hawkes Bay 08 - 00 Auckland after fifteen minutes

[Stockcar86]

Amazing what a difference West having a good game makes. Am liking Falcon at 2nd 5 - less one dimensional than Ropiha

[Higgins]

And now another easy kickable penalty for Ihaia West who will soon make it HB 11 - 00 AUckland after 20 minutes

[Higgins]

But somehow he miraculously manages to miss it - How is that possible I mean we can send a man to the moon and land him in the desired spot yet manage to miss the targe from a mere twenty metres.

[Tim]

Get some halves, Auckland!

[Stockcar86]

@Tim Probably a front row too

[Higgins]

Auckland are starting to come back into the game now they are starting to win a bit of possession and they also kick a penalty into the southerly to make the score HB 08 - 03 Auckland after about 22 minutes

[African Monkey]

FFS we have been awful so far.

[Higgins]

Two shite teams on a bad day?

[Stockcar86]

Too late - I was screaming for West to take the drop kick conversion quickly

[hydro11]

Clear foot in touch. Hawkes Bay should have waited some phases before scoring or taken the quick drop goal.

[African Monkey]

@Higgins I said to nepia that I could see us getting our pants pulled down in this one and with the way we've played so far it looks like it could happen.

[Higgins]

A beautiful try to Ryan Tongia about to be ruled out damn it all but can't argue about the mere touching on the sideline which is belatedly spotted by Mr. Dockary the TMO.

[Higgins]

After the try is ruled out Ioane makes a big break and looks likely to score but gets cut down by Matt Garland. The Bay scamper back and nearly score through Brad Weber. From the ensuing penalty West knocks it over from wideish out on the left hand side of the field HB 11 - 03 Auckland at half time. Auckland to have the wind in the second half

[Magpie_in_aus]

Ryan Tongia is the human speed bump. Expert at slowing people down but stopping anyone. that 13/14 channel is a bit worrying at the moment. Going to need to build some phases this half .

[Higgins]

The forwards are going a bit better than we have seen so far, and the scrum getting a tentative pass mark at this stage. The tackling still has me clenching my cheeks every time Auckland get their hands on the ball in a bit of space but so far it has held, if only just on a number of occasions.

[Stockcar86]

Still pretty nervous, our second 40 has been crap all year