New Zealand maintain stranglehold on Wales

• New Zealand make it 21 successive victories over Wales

• Wales stage late challenge but All Blacks hold on

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By John Mehaffey

CARDIFF, Nov 7 (Reuters) - New Zealand repelled a frenzied late challenge at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday to defeat Wales 19-12 and extinguish the home side's hopes of a first victory over the All Blacks since 1953.

In the final 10 minutes, with New Zealand leading 19-6, man-of-the-match Dan Carter pulled down replacement scrumhalf Martin Roberts with a tackle the crowd thought was clearly too high following a sizzling break by Shane Williams.

Alun Wyn Jones then galloped into empty territory after intercepting a pass from Jimmy Cowan but with the defence racing back desperately his attempted pass was knocked to the ground.

Two late penalties by Stephen Jones narrowed the gap but the final score was a fair reflection of the match although Wales coach Warren Gatland was unhappy that flyhalf Carter escaped punishment for his high tackle on Roberts.

"It was a hard, high tackle and a swinging arm. It should have been three points and a yellow card," he told a news conference.

Assistant coach Shaun Edwards added: "They should have been playing with 14 players."

CONSTANT THREAT

Carter, showing no sign of the bruised calf muscle which prevented him training this week, drilled the ball persistently at the Welsh back three, sapping the energy of the home side during a dour first half.

The teams turned around with the score tied 6-6 and the introduction of the lively Cowan at scrumhalf in place of the cumbersome Brendon Leonard gave the All Blacks the spark they needed.

Zac Guildford, making an impressive debut on the left wing, wriggled inside the defence near the Welsh line and hooker Andrew Hore completed the move to score in the 55th minute.

Six minutes later Conrad Smith, a constant threat at centre with his pace and vision, thought he had scored when he appeared to roll over the Welsh line but the try was denied after referee Craig Joubert consulted the television match official.

New Zealand head coach Graham Henry said he thought Smith should have been awarded the try.

"That would have opened up a gap, it was a wee bit disappointing," he told a news conference after his team made it 21 successive victories over Wales. (Editing by Sonia Oxley; To comment on this story: sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)