The Auckland Storm have recorded their second win of the Farah Palmer Cup, holding on for a 30-25 victory over a tenacious Manawatu Cyclones team.

The Storm started strongly and showed big improvements from their previous week’s performance but struggled to contain the Manawatu back line late in the match.

It wasn’t the start the visiting team would have been after, as Manawatu knocked on the opening kick off.

From there the Storm had a solid scrum and shifted the ball out wide, a skip-pass to Kiri Demant on the wing saw the fullback go over for the opening points in the first minute of the match.

The Storm were aggressive at the break down and from the outset used their line out as an attacking weapon.

Halfback Emma Jensen knocked over a penalty early in the half to give the Storm a 8-0 advantage.

Manawatu responded with a penalty moments later, their first real opportunity with possession in the match. 

It didn’t take long for the Storm to get back on the attack and once again it was their skill upfront that did the job.

From a line out the forwards rumbled forward in a solid rolling maul before co-captain Fiao’o Fa’amausili peeled off and went 30 metres to score in the corner. The Storm leading 13-3.

A flurry of points before the break saw three tries scored in six minutes.

The first saw a simple move from the Storm back line in which centre Naite Faitala-Mariner ran a neat line and stepped through the defence to score under the posts.

Manawatu caught the Storm napping from the kick off, regaining their own ball and breaking through some sloppy defence to score their first try of the match.

Not to be outdone, Fa’amausili stole a great turn over from the kick off which led to Demant going over in the corner for her second of the match.

The Storm went into the half time break leading 25-8.

Manawatu opened the second half scoring with a set move from scrum time. The conversion fell clear and the Storm led 25-13.

What followed was a period of solid attack from the Storm, which was matched by equally as impressive defence from Manawatu.

The Storm packed down three five metres scrums which each resulted in a player held up over the line. Eventually the error came, a knock on giving Manawatu a chance to clear the ball, but it didn’t find touch.

From there, the Storm launched a long range attack and quick hands across field led to Fa’amausili crossing out wide for her second, her fourth try in two weeks.

Fa’amausili’s efforts went unconverted and the Storm led 30-13.

Manawatu scored two long range tries in the closing quarter, getting to 30-25 with five minutes to play. Both came from industrious back line play.

It looked like the visitors might provide an upset but a knock on close to the try line gave the Storm and opportunity to clear and hold on for victory.

Auckland Storm 30 (F Fa’amausili 2, K Demant 2, N Faitala-Mariner tries, E Jensen 1 con, 1 pen)
Manawatu 25