Counties-Manukau coach dancing in the dark

By CHRIS RATTUE

Bruce Robertson has been involved in some of the highest reaches of rugby, but as coach of Counties-Manukau it is often a journey into the unknown.

It will be the same today, when the Steelers take on Nelson Bays in a second-round division-two match at Pukekohe.

Counties-Manukau opened with a home victory over Manawatu, and Nelson Bays won comfortably at home against Mid Canterbury, which is about as much as Robertson knows of his opposition today.

"You only get to see them if they're on the Heartland rugby programme," Robertson said.



Injuries had disrupted his side's preparations.

Nelson Bays are often contenders in the second division. East Coast tipped them out in the semifinals last year, after a win and a loss in the previous two finals.

They have this year employed South African coach Balie Swart, but are without leading loose forward Corey Holdaway, props Con Barrell and Blair Mirfin, first five-eighths Warren Johnston and long-serving halfback Dion Mytton.

The newcomers include South African front rowers Daniel Muller and Gareth Peters.

In other games, Manawatu host East Coast in Palmerston North, Mid Canterbury play Marlborough in Ashburton and Hawkes Bay face Thames Valley in Napier.

In the third division, second-placed King Country meet third-placed Wanganui in Te Kuiti, Poverty Bay host Wairarapa-Bush in Gisborne, South Canterbury play North Otago in Timaru and Buller entertain West Coast in Westport.

Top-placed Horowhenua-Kapiti have the bye.

Counties-Manukau: Amasio Valence, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Casey Laulala, Niva Ta'auso, Mark Lawson, Stephen Donald, Kevin Senio; Dion Kingi, Wayne McEntee (c), Kristian Ormsby, Ramon Lindsay, Semesi Saukawa, Alan McLean, Grant Henson, Dave Stewart. Reserves: Kiki Misa, Latiume Maka, Afoa Peterson, Craig Glendinning; Kevin Farrell, Quintan Sanft, Gus Leger.

Nelson Bays: Steve Dunn, Mark Milne, Aaron Kimura, Greg Meredith, Joe Fauii, Butch Little, Nick Webster; Kahu Marfell (c), Mark Bright, Karl Leary, Karl Perkins, Joe Mamea, Matt Tema, Gareth Peters, Daniel Muller. Reserves: Lui Aukoso, Joni Nacagilevu, Francis Meredith, Nathan Tule; Andy Stevens, Ross Soper, Rudolf Meredith.