Zarn Sullivan the hero as Auckland stun Bay of Plenty with huge NPC comeback win

A Zarn Sullivan conversion from wide out with time up sealed Auckland the unlikeliest of wins in a thrilling NPC season-opener against Bay of Plenty on Sunday.

His side down by 21 points in the second half at the Tauranga Domain, the day seemed a write-off for new coach Craig McGrath. That was until the Steamers went into their shells, his troops pulled up their socks, and a late yellow card proved costly for the hosts, with Auckland cashing in for not only a 32-30 victory, but a bonus point, too, along with The John Drake Boot played for between the two sides.

In a game between the two losing semifinalists from last year, the Steamers had surged to a 24-3 lead early in the second spell, with All Blacks Sevens rep Leroy Carter bagging tries either side of the break.

But after the Auckland back-three of Salesi Rayasi, Corey Evans and Caleb Tangitau all crossed the chalk, they were right back in it, and when Sullivan slotted a 77th minute penalty, after BOP had been marched for kicking the ball away, they lurked just five points behind.

Then came an even costlier lack of discipline from the home side, with a big brain fade from BOP reserve prop Alex Johnston, the debutant blatantly leaving his feet and playing the ball at a ruck and consequently yellow-carded, which allowed Auckland to set up a lineout around 15 metres out.

And, gifted a golden get-out-jail card, they duly didn’t botch their chance, getting a maul rolling and having reserve hooker Soane Vikena crashing over to level the scores.

It was then up to first-five Sullivan to ice the cake, from just five metres in from the left-hand touch. He had the consolation of golden point extra time up his sleeve, but the 23-year-old Blues and Māori All Blacks rep was as cool as the other side of the pillow in nailing his shot to have the burgle job sealed with his left-foot hoof.

Sunday’s other match also had a comeback of sorts, but without the same sort of dramatic finish, as Waikato held on for a gritty 29-21 win over Southland in Invercargill.

The Mooloos, who had All Blacks midfielder Quinn Tupaea back on deck following knee surgery last year, had banked their bonus point in just half an hour, racing to a 26-3 advantage, but with new first-five recruit Josh Ioane off the park and sent to hospital for scans on his arm, they had to withstand a second-half Stags fightback.

The other first-round bonus-point wins went to Taranaki – who defeated Counties Manukau 37-29 in New Plymouth on Friday night – and Canterbury, with last year’s runners-up the most convincing side on display, running in four-final quarter tries to put away Northland 43-11 victory in Whangārei on Saturday night.

Wellington, Tasman and Hawke’s Bay were the other first-up winners.

It wasn’t exactly a hiss and a roar from the Lions, and more an underwhelming meow, as the defending champions struggled their way to a 22-6 victory over Manawatū in Palmerston North on Saturday night.

Tamati Ellison’s first competition game in charge looked like a gimme, with the Turbos the only side not to win a game last year, conceding a whopping 473 points in their 10 outings, and heading into this campaign as equal-highest TAB outsiders, with Southland, at $101.

But, under new coach Mike Rogers, there was plenty to be heartened by for those wearing the buckets on their heads at Central Energy Trust Arena, with the hosts steeling up on defence, until the pressure eventually told in the 69th minute when Peter Umaga-Jensen crossed for what would be the only try of the game.

They were then gifted a more-comfortable-than-expected finish to the game thanks to the 73rd minute red card to Turbos reserve lock Josh Taula, with his brain explosion after-the-whistle shoulder to the head of Ruben Love sure to have made Rogers livid.

Tasman, who will be keen to atone for a surprisingly lacklustre 2022 season, where they failed to make the playoffs for the first time in 11 years, scored a 27-15 win over Otago in Nelson on Friday night, in a match where David Havili impressed in a 40-minute cameo on return from a hamstring injury.

It was just in time to remind the All Blacks selectors of his abilities, with the World Cup squad named on Monday. And after the 25-test midfielder was busy and typically silky in his work, his name is indeed likely to be one of the 33 read out in Napier.

Speaking of Napier, and All Blacks, Hawke’s Bay had the enviable one-two halfback punch of Folau Fakatava and Brad Weber help guide them to a slender 23-21 win over North Harbour at McLean Park on Saturday evening.

Veteran Alapati Leiua, who debuted for Wellington back in 2009, played for Waikato last season on return from England, then has featured in both South Africa (Stormers) and Japan (Shizuoka Blue Revs), scored Harbour’s two tries before what was a tense, tryless second stanza.

AT A GLANCE

At Trafalgar Park, Nelson: Tasman 27 (Macca Springer 2, Alex Nankivell tries; Taine Robinson 3 con, 2 pen) Otago 15 (Will Tucker, Jake Te Hiwi tries; Sam Gilbert con, pen). HT: 7-3

At Yarrow Stadium, New Plymouth: Taranaki 37 (Kaylum Boshier 2, Tei Walden, Kini Naholo, Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, Vereniki Tikoisolomone tries; Stephen Perofeta 2 con, pen) Counties Manukau 29 (Kauvaka Kaivelata, Etene Nanai-Seturo, Alex McRobbie, Jimmy Tupou tries; Riley Hohepa 3 con, pen). HT: 15-12

At McLean Park, Napier: Hawke’s Bay 23 (Chase Tiatia, Pouri Rakete-Stones tries; Lincoln McClutchie 2 con, 3 pen) North Harbour 21 (Alapati Leiua 2 tries; Oscar Koller con, 3 pen). HT: 14-15

At Central Energy Trust Arena, Palmerston North: Wellington 22 (Peter Umaga-Jensen try; Aidan Morgan con, 5 pen) Manawatū 6 (Brett Cameron 2 pen). HT: 3-6

At Northland Events Centre, Whangārei: Canterbury 43 (Blair Murray 2, Tahlor Cahill, Ben Funnell, Chay Fihaki tries; Fergus Burke 3 con, 4 pen) Northland 11 (Brady Rush try; Rivez Reihana 2 pen). HT: 13-5

At Tauranga Domain: Auckland 32 (Salesi Rayasi, Corey Evans, Caleb Tangitau, Soane Vikena tries; Zarn Sullivan 3 con, 2 pen) Bay of Plenty 30 (Leroy Carter 2, Manaaki Selby-Rickit tries; Lucas Cashmore 3 con, 2 pen, Wharenui Hawera pen). HT: 3-17.

At Rugby Park, Invercargill: Waikato 29 (Cortez Ratima 2, Malachi Wrampling, Pita Anae-Ah Sue tries; Josh Ioane 3 con, Taha Kemara pen) Southland 21 (Michael Manson, Viliami Fine tries; Greg Dyer con, 3 pen). HT: 26-11.

Points: Canterbury 5, Taranaki 5, Waikato 5, Auckland 5, Wellington 4, Tasman 4, Hawke’s Bay 4, Bay of Plenty 1, North Harbour 1, Counties Manukau 1, Southland 0, Otago 0, Manawatū 0, Northland 0.