Mon, 29 Aug 2016
The Counties Manukau Heat sit at the top of the table alongside Canterbury in the Farah Palmer Cup, after recording their third win of the season over Otago in the weekend.
The Heat defeated Otago 58-10 at University Oval in Dunedin on Saturday, to go unbeaten through their opening three games.
Aroha Savage scored two tries, while Krystal Murray bagged a hat trick in the victory. Renee Wickliffe, Te Kura Ngata-Aerengamate, Arihiana Marino, Langi Veainu and Ariana Hira-Herangi all scored one try each, while Hazel Tubic kicked four conversions.
The Heat’s next fixture against Bay of Plenty on Sunday 4 September will be televised on Sky Sport. The match will be played at the Tauranga Domain as a Mitre 10 Cup curtain raiser. Kick-off is at 12:05pm.
Counties Manukau B’s Black came away with a 22-16 victory over Waikato B in their match at Massey Park, Papakura.
The B’s Black loose forwards and wingers produced outstanding performances, which helped them commence their representative campaign.
Waikato B had the better of the first quarter, dominating possession and field position and scoring a try early in the game. Once Counties achieved field possession, strong go forward and ball retention over a number of phases resulted in Sione Fifita scoring a try in the corner.
Waikato kicked a penalty 10 minutes later, making the score 8-5. Alamanda Motuga was the next to score for Counties and that try set them up with a 10-8 half time lead.
The start of the second spell was a bit of an arm wrestle, but eventually Counties broke away with a moment of excellence from winger Tevita Nabura. He beat two defenders to score a brilliant individual try and extend the lead to 15-8. Counties were awarded a penalty and loose forward Josh Dowsing saw an opportunity for a quick tap and he dived over the try line taking the score to 22-8.
Waikato hit back with a try, but it wasn’t enough and Counties B Black took the victory. Players noted for their performances were Josh Dowsing, Alamanda Motuga, Matt Vaai, Sione Fifita and Tevita Nabura.
The Counties Manukau B’s Red side had a narrow 29-25 loss to Auckland Colts. Counties opened the scoring with a penalty after five minutes to Kalione Hala. 15 minutes into the first half Auckland scored their first try, breaking through the midfield and from the breakdown scoring in the left hand corner to make the score 5-3.
Auckland then extended their lead with a penalty kick and a second try to make it 13-3. Counties hit back with a try to Kalione Hala, which saw him pick up the ball from loose play and score. He converted his own try and closed the gap to 13-10 at half time.
Auckland scored from the restart to make it 18-10. But Counties B’s Red then replied with their best try of the game. It was created from good lead up work by the forwards on the left hand side and the ball then got put to the backs, with Hala scoring his second try of the game. After some good scrummaging, No. 8 Lepetimalo Lauese broke off the back of the scrum to score, which gave Counties the lead 20-18. Auckland then responded with a penalty and a try down the left hand touch to make it 26-20 to Auckland.
Nathan de Thierry scored next to the posts with two minutes left to go, but unfortunately the conversion was missed and Auckland then kicked a penalty on fulltime to take the victory.
Full Results:
Mitre 10 Cup
Steelers 39 (Viliame Rarasea, Jordan Taufua, Sherwin Stowers, Sione Molia, Penalty tries; Piers Francis 2 pen, 4 con)
Bay of Plenty 34
HT: 11-15
Farah Palmer Cup
Heat 58 (Renee Wickliffe, Aroha Savage 2, Te Kura Ngata-Aerengamate, Arihiana Marino, Krystal Murray 3, Langi Veainu, Ariana Hira-Herangi tries; Hazel Tubic 4 con)
Otago 10
HT: 31-10
Men’s B
CM Black 22 (Alamanda Motuga, Josh Dowsing, Tevita Nabura, Sione Fifita tries; Kirisome (Ray) Laulala con)
Waikato 16
HT: 10-8
CM Red 25 (Lepetimalo Lauese, Kalione Hala, Harley Jenkins, Nathan De Thierry tries; Kalione Hala con and pen)
Auckland Colts 29
HT: 10-13
Under 19
CM 27 (Antonio Kata, David O’Connell, Kolinio Watta, Vincen Tualaki tries; Orbyn Leger 2 cons and pen)
BOP 13
HT: 15-6
Under 16
CM 20 (Tupou Vaai, Brent Tucker, Paul Vitale tries; Tuhi Pompey con and pen)
BOP 18
HT: 8-18
Representative Fixtures:
Thursday, 1 September, 7:35pm Steelers v Hawkes Bay, McLean Park, Napier
Saturday, 3 September:
Mens B – CM Black v Northland, 2:00pm, Marist RFC
Men’s B – CM Red v BOP, 1:30pm, Wakarewarewa
Under 19s - CM v Taranaki, 1:00pm, Stratford, Taranaki
Under 18 Girls – CM v Thames Valley, 12:30pm, Thames Rhodes # 2
Under 16 – CM v King Country, 12:30pm, OD Park, Taupo
Under 85kg – CM v North Harbour, 1:00pm, Patumahoe
Sunday, 4 September:
Farah Palmer Cup – Heat v BOP, 12:05pm, Tauranga Domain
Roller Mills, 10:30am, CM v Auckland West, Colin Lawrie Fields, Pukekohe (PS)
Alternatively, please visit www.steelers.co.nz or http://draws.nzrugby.co.nz (Northern Region) for standings and full draw and results.
Photo Credit: Richard Spranger
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