News

Stags turn it on against Counties

Thursday 28th August 2008

Pehi Te Whare: The Stags winger gives his home crowd something to cheer about

Southland pulled off a five-try 31-8 Air New Zealand Cup victory over Counties Manukau on Thursday in Invercargill.

The win was the Stags' first in front of their home crowd this season, while the Steelers just can't seem to win home or away as they continue their slump at the bottom of the tournament table.

Counties have limped through the past three rounds of the competition after they plastered their name in lights during Round One with a 17-6 win over Auckland.

Before this game, the men from Auckland conceded 19 tries from four outings - the staticians can add another five to that list after the Stags ran in tries through hooker David Hall in the first half, with full-back Mark Wells, centre Jason Kawau, winger Pehi Te Whare and number eight Hua Tamariki getting the rest in the second half.

The visitors replied with a consolation try on the final hooter by replacement Viliami Fihaki.

With All Blacks scrum-half Jimmy Cowan back in the fold, Southland controlled most of the first half but were stopped time and again by a combination of handling errors and gritty defending by Counties.

A change of tactics and a decision to keep the ball tighter resulted in the first try to Southland when Hall got across after skipper Jamie Mackintosh decided to take a scrum five metres out following a full-arm penalty by referee Chris Pollock.

The decision paid off for the hosts and Southland were on the board after 29 minutes.

Rookie pivot Robbie Robinson, 19, starting the match instead of regular Blair Stewart, missed the conversion but slotted three others later.

Counties Manukau had a chance to hit back soon afterwards when a midfield turnover allowed winger Lelia Masaga to chip ahead, but he wasn't quite able to beat the defence for the touchdown.

The visitors had come close to scoring again on two occasions from a five-metre scrum, but had to settle for three points after Southland were blown offside. Full-back Tim Nanai-Williams had no trouble with his first - and only - successful penalty goal just on the stroke of half-time.

Down 3-5, Counties Manukau were still in with a shout with forty minutes of rugby still left to play.

But Southland came out in determined mood after the break and after a relentless build-up through their forwards, the home side finally moved the ball wide and it was Wells who crossed out wide.

A Southland counter-attack saw Kendrick Lynn make good space down the sideline and feed inside to Willie Rickards. From the tackle the ball was moved across to the left and a long pass found Kawau in the clear and he scored.

The Steelers' attempt to move the ball wide was intercepted after a wild pass from centre Niva Ta'auso, who had a superb defensive game, was intercepted by Te Whare who ran away to score Southland's bonus-point try.

With four minutes to play, Counties had a defensive scrum five metres out from their line but Southland destroyed the Steelers pack and Tamariki was untroubled to go across from the base of the scrum.

It was a good prelude for Southland who challenge Auckland for the Ranfurly Shield in Round Six action next week.

The scorers:

For Southland:
Tries: Hall, Wells, Kawau, Te Whare, Tamariki
Cons: Robertson 2, Stewart

Counties Manukau:
Try: Fihaki
Pen: Nanai-Williams

Southland: 15 Mark Wells, 14 Willie Rickards, 13 Kendrick Lynn, 12 Jason Kawau, 11 Pehi Te Whare, 10 Robbie Robinson, 9 Jimmy Cowan, 8 Hua Tamariki, 7 Tim Boys, 6 John Hardie, 5 Hoani Macdonald, 4 Daniel Ramsay, 3 Chris King, 2 David Hall, 1 Jamie Mackintosh.
Replacements: 16 Matt Holloway, 17 Fai Mika, 18 Josh Bekhuis, 19 Dion Bates, 20 Dane Shelford, 21 Blair Stewart, 22 Alesana Muliaina.

Counties Manukau: 15 Siale Piutau, 14 Lelia Masaga, 13 Romi Ropati, 12 Niva Ta'auso, 11 David Raikuna, 10 Tanner Vili, 9 Samisoni Fisilau, 8 Gary Saifoloi, 7 DJ Forbes, 6 Fritz Lee, 5 Andrew Van der Heijden (captain), 4 Jamie Chipman, 3 Jayden Murch, 2 Lance Po-Ching, 1 Simon Lemalu.
Replacements: 16 Rob Katu, 17 Eugene Beneke, 18 Rupeni Nasiga, 19 Viliame Fihaki, 20 Kevin Farrell, 21 Kane Hancy, 22 Tim Nanai-Williams.

Referee: Chris Pollock
Television match official: Todd Pullar