Blyde bags four tries in win over Auckland

A four-try haul from winger Liam Blyde and some dogged 14-man defence late in the match led the Taranaki Development team to a stunning 37-35 win over Auckland at Eden Park on Saturday.

In the final match of the Northern Regions competition, and with newly crowned champions Auckland attempting to go through the season unbeaten, Taranaki Development produced some of their best rugby of the season, scoring five tries to crash Auckland’s party.

‘‘The team is very proud of themselves and should be. To go up there and beat them on their own patch is a great effort,’’ Taranaki Development assistant coach Jason Hooper said. ’’I think it’s a sign of how the team’s been tracking in the past few weeks and this result shows the quality of depth in Taranaki rugby.

In what was a sign of things to come, Taranaki Development opened the scoring when Blyde pounced on a loose Auckland pass and ran 60m to score under the posts.

Auckland replied but Taranaki Development regained the lead when some good pick-and-go work from the forwards was rewarded with lock Micaiah Torrance-Read forcing his way over. However, Auckland scored twice more to take a 21-14 lead at halftime.

After the break it became the Liam Blyde Show, with the winger scoring the next three tries – all coming from great teamwork.

First, well-performed openside flanker Dylan Juffermans made a break and, despite pulling a hamstring, managed to draw and pass for Blyde to score.

Blyde’s next try came on the back of a spot tackle from second five-eighth Daniel Waite which forced an Auckland mistake. The ball was picked up and moved to Blyde who scored, despite it appearing his foot went into touch on his way to the line.

The winger’s final try came from a scrum 5m from the Auckland line. The ball was released and a cut-out pass went to fullback Matty McKenzie, who put Blyde in for the try.

Auckland then fought back and a combination of injuries, tiredness and a lack of discipline started to take its toll on Taranaki.

With Taranaki down to 14 men, after prop Asa Sorovaki was yellow carded, Auckland were able to make easy metres up the middle and scored one try. But Taranaki’s defence held firm, and with time up and leading by two points, Taranaki Development managed to earn a scrum, secure the feed and kick the ball out.