Two tries in the closing seven minutes secured Taranaki a 30-16 bonus try win over Manawatu in their national provincial championship rugby match in New Plymouth today.
Ahead 18-16 with under 10 minutes to play, and with Manawatu looking threatening, tries to second five-eighth Jayden Hayward and speedy youngster Beauden Barrett secured a flattering win for Taranaki.
Ahead 15-3 at the break, third-placed Taranaki worked hard to survive a determined Manawatu fightback in the second spell.
Manawatu's defence held firm against a well-organised Taranaki attack with the wind at their backs in the opening stanza, with first five-eighth Aaron Cruden looking dangerous on the counterattack early on.
However, the Manawatu line was broached in the 12th minute after a strong run from lock James Broadhurst saw him find a half-gap and offload to fullback Scott Ireland, who broke through a couple of tackles to score in the corner.
Taranaki's support play and quick recycle at the breakdown kept Manawatu back-pedalling, and they converted good field position into points with a try to wing and former Manawatu player Andre Taylor.
Willie Ripia added the extras, and with the strong wind at their backs, Taranaki led 12-0 after 20 minutes.
Five minutes later, Cruden did well to a sink a tricky penalty into the gusting win from 25 metres out.
But that was it for 12th-placed Manawatu, as the wind blew harder and rain began to fall. They kept the ball tight, working hard around the fringes with the pick and go, but went into halftime with a 12-point deficit as Taranaki added a Ripia penalty for a 15-3 lead.
A quick tap from halfback Aaron Smith barely five minutes into the second spell worked a treat for Manawatu, as the ball moved wide and No 8 Hamish Gosling crashed over for the try.
Cruden converted, and Manawatu were right back in the game; the gap narrowing further with another Cruden penalty in the 55th minute.
Both sides added a penalty apiece, and going into the last 10 minutes, Taranaki were clinging to a precarious 18-16 lead until Hayward and Barrett crossed within a couple of minutes to secure the win.
