Counties-Taranaki clash good for comedy value
The Sharknado franchise managed to pump out six films heavily leaning on the fact that the concept was so bad the audience couldn’t take their eyes off it.
There was a similar allure to Taranaki’s 26-19 win over Counties Manukau in Pukekohe last night. Taranaki’s first touch of the football was a kick out on the full from No 10 Daniel Waite — and things hardly improved from there.
The match had its highlights: Tevita Nabura finding himself on the right end of a kick deftly put across by Nigel Ah Wong to score a try; Seta Tamanivalu busting through tackles at every opportunity; Toni Pulu warding off seven tacklers on his way to scoring a try; Lachlan Boshier.
But for every highlight, there were a handful of errors, often of comedic proportions — props putting kicks through in open play, Manasa Mataele dropping almost everything flung his way, blatant penalties and, keeping with the theme of the night, referee Nick Briant was — let’s call it ‘lenient’ — with his knock-on decisions.
Taranaki were lucky they could defend their line. It proved to be the difference in the scoreline and Counties Manukau could not make the most of sustained periods of pressure in the first half.
Taranaki were fortunate to go into the break just 12-8 down, as outside of Boshier running in the first try thanks to a Tamanivalu break, they failed to launch an attack that looked even close to threatening.
A crash ball to Kalolo Tuiloma got the hosts on the board before Nabura crossed soon after, but after halftime it was all Taranaki.
A lack of discipline hurt both sides, but the visitors made more of the penalties they were awarded, with Beaudien Waaka slotting three.
The fullback scored every point for Taranaki in the second half, adding two tries — one immediately after the Pulu effort — and a conversion to increase his lead as the competition’s top scorer.
The result leaves Counties Manukau anchored at the bottom of the Premiership ladder with three losses in as many matches, while Taranaki join leaders Tasman and Auckland at the top on nine points.
Taranaki 26 (Beaudien Waaka 2, Lachlan Boshier tries; Waaka con, 3 pen)
Counties Manukau 19 (Kalolo Tuiloma, Tevita Nabura, Toni Pulu tries; Latiume Fosita con, Fosita Tuiloma con). HT: 8-12