News

The Counties Manukau PIC Steelers have picked up their first win of the Mitre 10 Cup season after coming from behind to beat Manawatu 36-30 at Navigation Homes Stadium in Pukekohe.

The visitors had control of the match through the first half and the PIC Steelers were only able to stay in touch.

But Tai Lavea’s side came alive in the final quarter of the match to secure an entertaining bonus-point win.

Open side flanker Alamanda Motuga had a field day, picking up a hat-trick of tries while right winger Kirisi Kuridrani scored the match winner.

They had to endure a couple of big moments before the final whistle sounded however.

“We train for it,” PIC Steelers coach Lavea said. “We know what type of side we are and we know we are capable of firing some shots but it is a matter of how we cope under pressure.

“So we trained for those big moments when there are stoppages in play and how do our leaders connect and what is our next minute of work.

“There were so many stops in momentum and I’m just proud of how the guys reacted to that.”

The win lifts the PIC Steelers off the bottom of the table and into sixth place in the championship.

The PIC Steelers travel to Hamilton next Saturday night to face Waikato at FMG Stadium.