Chiefs mates play part in shaping unions' futures

By CHRIS RATTUE

Bay of Plenty 34 Counties Manukau 20

Who knows when the paths of old Chiefs team-mates Glen Jackson and Blair Feeney will cross again?

Feeney, a Counties Manukau back, is Otago-bound and rumours persist that Bay of Plenty's Jackson could head overseas. They are old mates, being under-18 representative cricket rivals and NPC rugby combatants at first five-eighths.

They met again at Tauranga Domain on Saturday, where they may have determined their unions' futures.

In a rousing Air New Zealand-sponsored first division match with relegation ramifications, replacement Feeney gave Jackson and his side the get-out-of-jail pass they needed. In the 55th minute, with Bay ahead 24-17 but down to 14 men, Jackson intercepted a long Feeney pass and scampered 90m for a classic case of the 14-point try.

The Steelers had the Steamers on the ropes when Feeney launched the ball at a left-side overlap and Jackson shuffled forward.

"I looked out and no one was there. It was seven points on the way for them. It was all or nothing," Jackson said.

Jackson, who is just over a knee injury, jubilantly raised his arm after jumping away from a trio of chasers. It was the moment that changed more than just this game.

The match had appeared to switch Counties Manukau's way on halftime when Bay lock Paul Tupai was sent off by referee Steve Walsh for a high tackle that left midfield back Gus Leger on the ground for three minutes before he ambled off.

Loki Crichton kicked the penalty and Counties Manukau turned to play with the wind, down only by 19-10.

Yet around the clever work of Crichton who started at first five-eighths, the powerful charges of Koula Tukino, and recovery work of openside Wayne McEntee, the Steelers were disorganised and failed to lay a platform up front.

Bay of Plenty tackled desperately in numbers, swarming to protect the sharp tries by Jackson, Remeka Poihipi and Australian flyer Scott Barton.

Jackson was the man of the match, kicking cleverly, landing goals and scoring that try.

Bay of Plenty had heroes galore, among them flanker Dave Gorrie, who struggles to make a fit Bay line-up, but who battled like a demon after being forced into lock after the departure of Tupai.

Then there was prop Steve Simpkins, who led the side out in his 100th game and epitomises the odds smaller provinces face. The 30-year-old is a six-days-a-week security guard who heads to work after training, arriving home at 6 am.

He overcame a calf muscle injury to play on the unfamiliar tighthead side, although in his century game he was given the No 1 jersey of a loosehead prop to wear.

"It's a massive step - almost all of us work and we're playing against professionals," Simpkins said. "This was our final. You can compete with 14 men, but it's hard for 40 minutes. In the last 15, it seemed they had men coming from everywhere."

Saturday's crowd was well under half the 11,000 who crammed in for last year's second division final win over Nelson Bays, but this was just as an important match for Bay rugby.

Counties Manukau may have had men everywhere in the end, but they weren't allowed to achieve a lot.