Bad news gets worse for well-beaten Steelers

By CHRIS RATTUE

Waikato 63 Counties Manukau 21

The news on the field was hardly what Counties Manukau needed, although not unexpected.

The information that greeted them after a hammering at the hands of Waikato was almost as bad, and a complete surprise.

The shock win by their Chiefs comrades Bay of Plenty over Wellington has piled the pressure on the Steelers after just one round of the NPC.

It may seem far too early to start talking about relegation, but all the battlers of the first division know that any win by another lesser light intensifies the pressure in a year when the last-placed side will automatically drop down.

"That Bay of Plenty win puts the minnows under pressure," Steelers coach Andrew Talaimanu said.

Counties Manukau battled well in the first half of yesterday's game at cricket's WestpacTrust Park in Hamilton.

But they still trailed by 13 points at halftime and were increasingly outplayed as Waikato completed a nine-try romp.

With Waikato prop Deacon Manu leading a powerful forward effort - although his team ran foul of referee Steve Walsh's tackle-ball rulings - their backs, Roger Randle and Keith Lowen in particular, ran amok.

Randle's speed can cause the best of defences problems and twice in the first 25 minutes he bamboozled defenders to run in tries.

On the first occasion, the last defender, Blair Feeney, could not even get a hand on the flying wing as he accelerated away in minimal space after Waikato hit the short side.

It was an uneven contest on the second occasion, when Randle left Darryn Butcher on his knees as the prop found himself the last defender at the end of the Steelers line.

Lowen was just as impressive, setting up an early Grant McQuoid try after busting through the Counties Manukau line and getting to his feet to feed the fullback.

Lowen joined the quickly growing list of try scorers midway through the second half after the Steelers were forced into some obstruction to deal with Randle's pace.

Counties Manukau were not helped by the defection of Super 12 fullback Loki Crichton because of an ankle injury, with national under-19 centre Casey Laulala taking his place.

Counties Manukau captain Danny Lee said his team could not get enough ball in the second half to be competitive.

"It was pretty much an All Blacks backline, from second-five out, up against players who haven't played in the first division."

As is the habit of coaches, Waikato's Kiwi Searancke and Ian Foster managed to find faults in their side, but it was still a resounding start to the season.

"To win first up in this competition takes a bit of pressure off for the next couple of weeks ... but it is a long way to go," Searancke said.

Among the best Waikato contributors was David Hill, playing his first NPC match for his adopted province.

The former Marlborough and Southland man ran the game well and slotted eight out of 10 kicks at goal.

And former All Black lock Royce Willis returned from a groin operation to play the last 18 minutes.

While Waikato had a far more experienced and lethal-looking line-up than Counties Manukau, they, too, had newcomers such as lock Glen Remnant.

In many ways, they could not have wished for a better start.