Counties' 10 tries sink 3rd div champs

PUKEKOHE - Counties-Manukau, as expected, opened their NPC second division rugby season today with an easy win over last year's third division champions Poverty Bay.

They scored 10 tries, three to Chiefs midfield player Niva Ta'auso, in the 67-24 victory at Pukekohe.

Counties host Hawke's Bay for a much tougher encounter next Saturday and probably wouldn't shine as much as they did today.

There were some individual brilliance from the likes of former All Black Eroni Clarke, a solid unit at midfield in his second division debut. He scored one of their tries in the first half.

The only Super 12 player currently in second division, Ta'auso, scored two tries in quick succession during the mid-stages of the first half and another later.

It was Poverty Bay, who actually started the game well, scoring the first try of the match when Mosese Luveitasau latched on to an intercept to sprint 40 metres in the eight minute.

But the tide turned and Counties Manukau dominated in all aspects although they were rather loose for such tougher opponents such as Hawke's Bay and Nelson Bays.

Counties-Manukau 67 (Niva Ta'auso 3, Lelia Masaga 2, Tim Manawatu 2, Eroni Clarke, Kevin Farrell, Jeffrey Maka tries; Troy Nathan pen, 7 con), Poverty Bay 24 (Mosese Luveitasau, Aaron Good, Hone Kaa tries; Douglas Sanft pen, 3 con). Halftime: 24-17.

- NZPA