Auckland have fought off an improved Bay of Plenty side in the Mitre 10 Cup, clinging on for a 20-16 victory tonight.
A settled Auckland lineup were facing a five-day turnaround after a big win over Manawatū, and were challenged in Rotorua by a Bay of Plenty team that had improved from an unconvincing win over Southland and a comprehensive defeat to Wellington last weekend.
It was far from champagne rugby, but Auckland had two first-half tries from Salesi Rayasi to thank for their victory. The Hurricanes winger leapt high above Emoni Narawa to fetch a TJ Faiane cross-kick and score in the corner, before doubling his tally just before halftime after powering over the line from close range.
Otere Black kept the hosts in the game with three penalties to make it 17-9 at the break, and when Leroy Carter made the most of an Auckland mistake at the back to mop up and dot down, the Bay were back in it.
A Harry Plummer penalty put Auckland quickly back out to a more comfortable four-point margin with 23 minutes to play, and that's where the score remained, despite a late surge from Bay of Plenty after winning a penalty with a minute to go.
