News
Counties-Manukau show steel in brilliant opening win
31 July 2010
Counties Manukau showed plenty of steel in a brilliant performance to open their ITM Cup campaign with a bonus point 29-13 victory over Otago at Bayer Growers Stadium.
The Steelers gave the 6500 passionate fans plenty to cheer about. While their attacking ability was more than evident with their four tries - all to their potent outside backs - no doubt coaches Milton Haig and Tana Umaga were delighted with the outstanding defence. It was only broken in the 79th minute with Otago's sole try but otherwise the blue and golds were kept well in check by the staunch defence.
Umaga said it was an excellent start for his team who wanted to produce a performance of note first-up at home.
"We talked about wanting to make our supporters, our families and ourselves proud," Umaga said. "And I think we did that.
"Our D was strong tonight which was pleasing but there are still things to work on.
"We need to work on our discipline. We gave away a lot of penalties although it's something we've been working on. We are so competitive at the breakdown and want to challenge for possession all the time. We probably need to make better decisions and at times let it go and have more faith in our defence."
They were on the receiving end of the referee's whistle, with a 17-5 penalty count against them although in general they gained parity at scrum and lineout until late in the match when the benches emptied and the much fitter Steelers outfit showed some wear and tear from their exhaustive tackling efforts.
The Steelers took 20 minutes to get into the game but from their first concerted move from phase play they moved the ball on the short side. Siale Piutau made a fine in-pass to Sherwin Stowers who found winger Ahsee Tuala in space and the winger scored with first five Cummins landing a fine conversion.
Ironically a yellow card to prop Jono Owens after half an hour led to an outstanding Steelers try. It started with a chip kick from Umaga from inside his own 22 which found space. Flying winger Sherwin Stowers did well to gain possession and he made ground before linking with hooker Grant Henson and from the recycled ball, centre Siale Piutau finished off with the try.
The Steelers held on with 14 men but no sooner had Owens returned than Grant Henson was carded for a hand in the ruck - and it sparked the Steelers again who found space on the short side for Ahsee despite a seven-man scrum. He linked for the set-up, with prop Simon Lemalu throwing a superb pass into space for Tim Nanai-Williams who was able to finish superbly through two would-be tacklers. Cummins converted for the 22-6 halftime advantage with Otago only managing two Glenn Dickson penalties.
Otago piled on the pressure in the second half but the crucial point came 15 minutes into the half when the southerners, hot on attack and pressing for the pine, threw a pass on the outside intercepted by Tuala who ran 95 metres for the try, which Cummins converted for the bonus point and a 29-6 lead.
Counties Manukau were forced to defend for much of the half, as both sides emptied their benches, but it was only with a minute to go that Otago finally breached the line with a limping Nanai-Williams could not pick up the loose ball with fullback Chris Small scoring.
Counties Manukau Steelers are on the road playing Wellington next Sunday before heading south on week three to meet Southland in what they hope will be a Ranfurly Shield clash.
The team remained on the field for more than 20 minutes after the game signing autographs for the throngs of supporters.
Scorers:
Counties Manukau Steelers 29 (Tuala Ahsee 2, Siale Piutau, Tim Nanai-Williams tries; Dean Cummins pen, 3 con)
Otago 13 (Chris Small try, Glenn Dickson 2 pen, a con)
Halftime: 22-6
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