Exactly as we said (ahem) Counties would thump Auckland. (Well not quite what we said). Counties kept alive their slim hopes of making the ITM Cup semi-finals after overcoming Auckland 41-18 with a try bonus-point in Pukekohe on Thursday. The Steelers are now one point off their opposition and go into Sundays finale at Tasman confident. They must also hope Northland beat Auckland. Sonny Bill Williams made his return to rugby union in the game, coming on for Bundee Aki in the 59th minute of his sides impressive six-try showing. Counties took the lead on two minutes when fly-half Ahsee Tuala landed a penalty attempt but Auckland struck back six minutes later when Ofa Tuungafasi crossed the whitewash to make it 3-5. Unfortunately for the visitors, fly-half Gareth Anscombe missed the resulting conversion. The Steelers would steady themselves by the 20 minute mark though, and when referee Kane McBride awarded them a penalty try and sent Junior Poluleuligaga to the sin-bin for slapping the ball down as Counties went wide, the door was open for the hosts to pull away. Although they didnt add to their tally in those ten minutes, wing Frank Halai did go over three minutes before the break for a 15-5 cushion as the two teams went to the changing rooms. Paul Feeneys team-talk clearly lifted his Auckland charges as Anscombes penalty goal on 44 minutes brought the visiting team within seven points of their opponents in Pukekohe. However, Counties would steady themselves and when fly-half Tuala went in under the posts before Tim Nanai-Williams extras made it 22-8, it looked like the match was now beyond Auckland, with All Black centre Williams still to emerge from the replacements bench. Anscombe did land his second penalty of the game on 54 minutes but when Halai crossed for his brace, the bonus-point was secured by Counties before scrum-half Augustine Pulu and Auckland replacement Jack Whetton traded tries to make it 34-18 with ten minutes left. Replacement Sam Henwood added Counties Manukaus sixth try and the gloss on full-time. The scorers: For Counties: Tries: Penalty, Halai 2, Tuala, Pulu, Henwood Con: Tuala, Nanai-Williams, Stanley 2 Pen: Tuala For Auckland: Tries: Tuungafasi, Whetton Con: Anscombe Pen: Anscombe 2 Counties Manukau: 15 Tim Nanai-Williams, 14 Frank Halai, 13 Rey Lee-lo, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 Andy Muirhead, 10 Ahsee Tuala, 9 Augustine Pulu, 8 Maama Vaipulu, 7 Dan Hyatt, 6 Jordan Taufua, 5 Jimmy Tupou, 4 Sikeli Nabou, 3 Jarrod Firth, 2 Suliasi Taufalele, 1 Pauliasi Manu. Replacements: 16 Sione Angaaelangi, 17 Sean Bagshaw, 18 Viliami Rarasea, 19 Sam Henwood, 20 Kane Hancy, 21 Mike Stanley, 22 Sonny Bill Williams. Auckland: 15 Lolagi Visinia, 14 Melani Nanai, 13 Francis Saili, 12 Hadleigh Parkes, 11 George Moala, 10 Gareth Anscombe, 9 Junior Poluleuligaga, 8 Peter Saili, 7 Sean Polwart, 6 Joe Edwards, 5 Liaki Moli, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu, 3 Ofa Tuungafasi, 2 Tom McCartney, 1 Sam Prattley. Replacements: 16 Gafatasi Sua, 17 Nick Barrett, 18 Jack Whetton, 19 Blake Gibson, 20 Leon Fukofuka, 21 TJ Faiane, 22 Simon Hickey. Referee: Kane McBride
Posted on: Wed, 08 Oct 2014 19:35:57 +0000
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