Counties run riot against playoffs-bound Makos
Counties Manukau have come out on top against Tasman in their final game of the season, winning 52-30
It was a try fest in Pukekohe, with the Steelers scoring eight to the Makos’ four.
This was a match that meant nothing for the Steelers, they were already safe from relegation and had no chance of making the semifinals.
For Tasman though a win would have moved them into third place, which could give them an away semifinal against Canterbury next weekend, if North Harbour fail to beat Taranaki today.
However, this defeat means it’s likely they’ll be playing Taranaki in New Plymouth next weekend.
For Counties, this result
highlights what might have been this year. A dreadful start to the campaign ruled them out of a top four finish early in the campaign and they were in a relegation scrap for the second half of the season.
In just the third minute Tasman hit the front with Tim O’Malley crashing over, beating a stretched Steelers defence.
Four minutes later Ethan Blackadder picked the ball up from a ruck less than a metre from the Counties line and dived over to score. It was an horrendous start by Counties, but they were able to bounce back in the 13th minute, with a maul driving over from a lineout and hooker Joe Royal scoring.
The relentless scoring continued with Counties getting another try that began from a maul off a lineout, this time centre Nigel Ah Wong getting the points.
O’Malley made it 17-12 to the Makos with a penalty in the 24th minute and they went further ahead five minutes later as Levi Aumua scored in the right corner.
Ah Wong got a brace with a few seconds left in the half, intercepting a pass and running in 25m untouched.
It put the Steelers just three points behind, but the start of the second half was just as bad as the first for Counties, with Alex Nankivell slipping through the defensive line.
Tim Nanai-Williams sent a perfectly timed pass to second-five Orbyn Leger for Counties’ next try.
O’Malley made it 30-24 in the 56th minute with a penalty, but with 17 minutes to go Counties hit the lead for the first time, being awarded a penalty try by referee Paul Williams as the Makos collapsed a maul that was heading over their line.
Counties’ Albert Nikoro was shown a red card and Baden Kerr a yellow for a tackle on Tima Fainga’anuku in the 65th minute.
But despite their numerical disadvantage, Nanai-Williams scored a stunning solo try running through the heart of the Makos defence for the match winner.
Three minutes from time, Sam Henwood picked up his province’s penultimate try of the season, with Kerr getting the last.