{"id":36181,"date":"2025-08-01T00:22:13","date_gmt":"2025-08-01T00:22:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/36181\/"},"modified":"2025-08-01T00:22:13","modified_gmt":"2025-08-01T00:22:13","slug":"all-blacks-sevens-ace-scores-stunning-double-in-npc-nail-biter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/36181\/","title":{"rendered":"All Blacks Sevens ace scores stunning double in NPC nail-biter"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

All Blacks<\/a> Sevens flyer Xavier Tito-Harris<\/a> showcased soccer skills and elite game awareness on the rugby field to score a scintillating double for Auckland<\/a> in the National Provincial Championship opener for the 2025 season.<\/p>\n

Auckland gave it everything against a star-studded Waikato<\/a> outfit at Eden Park on Thursday, but the hosts couldn\u2019t quite hold on as two former All Blacks orchestrated a memorable 36-35 win on the road for the Mooloos.<\/p>\n

Rui Farrant crossed in the 75th minute to make it a six-point game, before Lima Sopoaga<\/a> created something special from nothing, linking up with former HSBC SVNS Series ace Tepaea Cook-Savage<\/a> with a one-two play before scoring a thrilling last-gasp effort.<\/p>\n

\"Video<\/p>\n

Cameron Dawson on scrummaging<\/p>\n

\"VideoCameron Dawson on scrummaging<\/p>\n

Aaron Cruden stepped up and added the two points, with Waikato stealing a one-point win away from home to start the fresh campaign. Sopoaga\u2019s try is already a viral highlight on social media, but it wasn\u2019t the only spectacular clip from an all-time classic NPC clash.<\/p>\n

Auckland captain Anton Segner<\/a> opened the scoring early on before Tito-Harris made something difficult look almost easy, with the left winger kicking the ball ahead a couple of times during a long-range break up the field.<\/p>\n

Waikato were hot on attack before Tito-Harris managed to block an attempted kick from Xavier Roe<\/a>, with the deflection turning the visitors around in a desperate scramble. Tito-Harris got boot to ball at the halfway line, before kicking it again just inside the 22.<\/p>\n

The ball sat up inside the in-goal, with the All Blacks Sevens representative diving on it to score a popular five-pointer early in the opening-round blockbuster. Another SVNS Series star, Cody Vai, was the first to Tito-Harris as the try-scoring celebrations began.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe ball\u2019s ricochet away and now they\u2019re in a bit of trouble at the back here Waikato,\u201d Sky Sport commentator Tony Johnson said on the broadcast.<\/p>\n

\u201cAuckland swooping through on it. Here\u2019s a chance for the opening try for one of the backs of the Auckland teams.<\/p>\n

\u201cXavier Tito-Harris it is who scores.\u201d<\/p>\n

Waikato scored 12 unanswered points from there, with SVNS Series 2024\/25 rookie Oli Mathis<\/a> putting in a well-worked grubber kick for Bailyn Sullivan. The match\u2019s momentum has swung the visitors\u2019 way before Rico Simpson<\/a> converted a penalty goal for Auckland in the 30th minute.<\/p>\n

Tito-Harris was next to score a try, completing a double after picking off a pass from 2011 Rugby World Cup<\/a> winner Cruden. The winger juggled the ball slightly before racing more than 60 metres to the house for a 44th-minute\u00a0try.<\/p>\n

TiTWO-Harris \u270c\ufe0f@AucklandRugby<\/a> extend their lead after the break.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udcf2 Watch LIVE on @skysportnz<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/KNrxBekEpl<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Bunnings NPC (@BunningsNPC) July 31, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s Xavier Tito-Harris<\/a>, and he\u2019ll have the speed to go all the way,\u201d Johnson exclaimed.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell he\u2019s a great opportunist. This is his second try of the match and it\u2019s an excellent start to the second half for Auckland.\u201d<\/p>\n

Auckland\u2019s Payton Spencer<\/a> was next to score, before Mathis and Cook-Savage crossed for the visitors \u2013 all either current or former All Blacks Sevens representatives. Cook-Savage\u2019s try made it an eight-point game with just over 10 minutes to play.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s when Sopoaga and Cruden stepped up with match-winning plays, but Tito-Harris remains a player to watch this season, and so too are the other SVNS Series players like Mathis and Cook-Savage who impressed for Waikato.<\/p>\n