Hawkes Bay v 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

[Higgins]

Three Hurricanes locks on the field tonight with Mark Abbot sowhing plenty of industry about the field. Michael Fatialofa has been pretty anonymous for Auckland so far. Geoffrey Cridge still to convince me he is a Super Rugby player, but at least we are getting to see him play so have, at last, something to judge him by.

[Higgins]

Fifty minutes now gone and the wheels have not yet fallen off the Bay. In fact very unlucky not to score after Matt Garland intercepts a R Ioane pass and gets an offload away to West who promptly drops the pass.

[Higgins]

Damn Mark Abbot held up over the line after the restart from a Hickey successful penalty

[Stockcar86]

Here's hoping Weber plays the full game

[Stockcar86]

Resting heart rate is normally high 60's, currently 110...

[Higgins]

Come on Auclkland, please make an effort to be competitive in the scrums. You are stopping HB from getting a pushover thanks to standing up under pressure.

[Higgins]

TRY. A try to Mark Abbot. West converts HB 18 - 09 Auckland with 22 minutes still to play

[Higgins]

TBW get replaced by Ross Filipo. What are you thinking Mr. Philpott? The end result being Hickey kicking yet another penalty to make it HB 18 - 12 Auckland after 61 minutes