Cyclones let win slip away
Another upset win got away from the Manawatu¯ Cyclones, this time against Counties Manukau.
Counties Manukau won the round two Farah Palmer Cup fixture 31-22 at Papakura on Saturday for their first win, while it was the first loss for the Cyclones, who toppled Auckland the week before.
What was frustrating for Cyclones coach Fusi Feaunati was they were up 17-0 after 10 minutes by attacking out wide.
But Manawatu¯ made an error off a kickoff, then allowed Counties Manukau back into it, and with the help of their big forward pack, they roared into a 19-17 halftime lead.
Counties Manukau’s resurgence coincided with Manawatu¯ losing prop Sita Kuruyabaki with a knee injury, when she was cleaned out of a ruck and her leg was trapped. She has a suspected ruptured anterior cruciate ligament.
Manawatu¯ did score four tries to get a bonus point out of the game.
‘‘We’re on course, probably a better course than we thought we would be,’’ Feaunati said.
‘‘We’ll take the six competition points we’ve got.
‘‘The competition is fairly even, with Wellington knocking Canterbury over.’’
The Cyclones have their first home game of the year this weekend against Bay of Plenty, in a game they should target to win. Manawatu¯ will have their four Manukura schoolgirls available now their schools rugby campaign is over and Manawatu¯ should have forwards Rachael Rakatau and Rikki Rawleigh available too. Wing Lauren Balsillie scored a double.
In other games, Auckland whipped Tasman 86-0 in Auckland, Wellington beat Canterbury 43-38 in Wellington, Otago beat Hawke’s Bay 31-12 in Dunedin, Waikato beat Bay of Plenty 44-7 at Matata near Whakata¯ne and North Harbour thrashed Taranaki 59-0 at Inglewood.
The Manawatu¯ under-19 team are into the 13th-to-16th place playoffs after a loss in their opening game of the Jock Hobbs Memorial national tournament in Taupo¯ on September.
Manawatu¯ lost 27-22 to Counties Manukau on Sunday and will now play Auckland Development in their first playoff game on Wednesday. Manawatu¯ were unlucky not to win after spending the end of the game on attack, including where they took a quick tap just out from Counties Manukau’s line, but the referee ruled the halfback didn’t tap the ball properly.
‘‘I can’t complain about the effort, it was really good,’’ coach Shane Ratima said.
‘‘In the first half we controlled territory and possession and upset their set piece.’’
Counties Manukau led 14-10 at halftime and it was tight until the end.
No 8 Michael Halatuituia was strong and Jayden Falcon controlled the game well at first fiveeighth.
The tournament finishes on Saturday.
Horowhenua Ka¯piti were beaten 52-29 by South Canterbury at Wellington’s Westpac Stadium on Sunday. South Canterbury scored four tries for a bonus point within 25 minutes and were up 35-10 at halftime.
In other results in week three of the Heartland Championship, Wanganui pumped Poverty Bay 53-0 at Gisborne to stay on top of the table with King Country, who beat North Otago 22-18 at Taumarunui.
Mid-canterbury won 36-29 over West Coast in Ashburton, Thames Valley beat Buller 43-22 at Westport and Wairarapa Bush beat East Coast 26-5 at Ruatoria.
Horowhenua Ka¯piti play North Otago in O¯ amaru on Saturday.
The Horowhenua Ka¯piti Development team lost 44-41 to Wellington Ma¯ ori Development.