Waikato’s bench strength decisive in Pukekohe win
Waikato’s finishers got the job done in their clash against Counties Manukau at Pukekohe last night.
In a back-and-forth tussle, Waikato won 34-20, getting a massive lift from their bench, including two secondhalf tries from reserves.
The hosts will be ruing a dismal display at the lineout. While they had standout performances from Etene Nanai-Seturo, Hoskins Sotutu and Cam Roigard, their inability to secure the ball at their set piece was costly.
For Waikato, Damian McKenzie and Laghlan McWhannell impressed early, before Ollie Norris came off the bench and asserted himself at the scrum.
It was one-way traffic early as Counties Manukau took a 10-0 lead inside the opening 12 minutes.
However, Waikato worked their way into the contest well and began to string phases together and attack. While the Counties Manukau defence was at times sketchy, Waikato didn’t help themselves, as their handling let them down and they were at times isolated at the breakdown.
A brilliant run from McWhannell saw Waikato finally break through and they soon levelled the scores.
Counties Manukau couldn’t capitalise on great opportunities to retake the lead before halftime, opting for scrums over penalty goals deep inside Waikato territory but unable to score tries from them.
However, a wild sequence in broken play saw them take the lead through halfback Roigard, who scored off the back of a flashy pass from Sotutu, who collected an attempted kick and chase from NanaiSeturo.
However, Counties Manukau’s issues at the lineout proved the difference. All match, the hosts struggled to secure ball from their own throw, blowing several attacking opportunities and turning over ball in their own territory.
After Waikato reserve prop Norris hit back from a subpar lineout from his own team, Waikato reserve halfback Xavier Roe swooped onto a wayward Counties Manukau throw at the back of the set piece and zoomed away to score.
With the hooter having sounded, Counties Manukau had a chance to attack deep from their own half, but when the ball hit the ground and Mosese Dawai toed it through for a late try, they lost the bonus point as well.
Waikato 34 (Laghlan McWhannell, Ollie Norris, Xavier Roe, Mosese Dawai tries; Damian McKenzie 4 cons, 2 pens)
Counties Manukau 20 (Zuriel Togiatama, Cam Roigard tries; Riley Hohepa 2 cons, 2 pens)
HT: 10-10