All Blacks winger Doug Howlett became the leading tryscorer in Super 12 or 14 rugby as the Auckland Blues beat the Waikato Chiefs 18-11 in an often-bitter match on Saturday.
Howlett’s 61st-minute try was his 58th in 97 matches, carrying him past the record mark of 57 tries previously held by Wallabies and ACT Brumbies wing Joe Roff.
His try was the third of the match for the Blues, who fought back from 11-5 down in the first half and 11-8 behind at halftime to outscore the Chiefs 10 points to nil in the second half.
The Chiefs led from the second minute, when Stephen Donald opened their scoring with a penalty, to the 57th minute when the first-place Blues gained the lead for the first time with a try to hooker Keven Mealamu.
The match was fought out physically, sometimes spitefully, between franchises separated geographically by only 130km but by 12 points and nine places on the championship ladder.
The Blues’ hard-fought win pushed them seven points clear of the second-placed Western Force.
The Chiefs had briefly stunned the Blues with their ferocious approach in the game’s opening minutes. Donald slotted two early penalties for a 6-0 lead and, after flanker Jerome Kaino scored the Blues’ first try, former Blues centre Tasesa Lavea touched down for Waikato.
The Blues, reinforced after halftime by All Blacks Mealamu and Ali Williams, took control with a stiffer second-half forward performance. Mealamu scored his try in the 57th minute, then made Howlett’s record breaker with a trademark break and pass.
”It was quite a time to score it in a game like this,” Howlett said. ”It was timely to get over for the team and for myself, to get my 58th.
”It’s been in the back of my mind for a while. Now I’ve got it, I can bury it and move forward.”
Howlett’s 58th try surpassed Roff’s 57 and Christian Cullen’s 56. Only one current player, Canterbury Crusaders utility Caleb Ralph who has 55 tries, is presently in range of his mark.
Waikato played with real spirit on Saturday, rising above their lowly championship standing, but were left to take only a consolation bonus point from the match. After dominating much of the first half, they relinquished control of the match in the second to a more determined, focused Blues team.
”I think we missed out on getting over the advantage line after halftime,” said Chiefs captain Tom Willis. ”The Blues muscled up and we didn’t match them in that area.
”Both teams came out pretty pumped up. There were some big shots going in and it was pretty intense. But once they got in behind us in the middle of the second half, we lost our way a bit.” – Sapa-AP
Scores
Auckland 18 (Jerome Kaino, Keven Mealamu, Doug Howlett tries; Isa Nacewa penalty), Waikato 11 (Tasesa Lavea try; Stephen Donald 2 penalties). HT, 8-11.