Dead rubber sparks into life as Counties almost claw way back

Hawkes Bay's Davis Norman is tackled by Male Sa'u. Phil Walter / Getty Images

Counties Manukau 29 Hawkes Bay 30

Dead rubbers, if you'll pardon the expression, are usually no fun for anyone but Counties and Hawkes Bay succeeded in bringing nearly 60 points worth of entertainment to Mt Smart yesterday.

Counties-Manukau, after looking distinctly comatose, awoke to all but steal the game, faltering only when one of their key attackers, Niva Ta'auso, was yellow-carded six minutes from the end.

Neither side could make the Air New Zealand Cup playoffs so the match was more about building up momentum and psychological foundations for next season's campaign.

Hawkes Bay had won two matches (against Counties Manukau in pool play and Manawatu) and drawn one (against Northland), while Counties had managed just the one win (against Southland) and a draw (against Manawatu).

Hardly the stuff of which entertainment is made. However, with the pressure off and a bevy of new players getting a trot with next year in mind, the Bay rolled up their sleeves, reminded themselves that they had won the last eight matches straight against Counties-Manukau and set about making it nine.

They did so without the promising talent of still-at-school fullback Israel Dagg, taken off with a head injury early. However, his replacement, Daniel Waenga, waltzed through some indifferent tackling to score and then floated a fine hanging pass to winger Ryan Glover.

The pressure allowed halfback Danny Lee to slip across from a ruck after selling the biggest dummy since that American bloke thought he'd bought London Bridge.

First five-eighths Matt Berquist kicked for goal efficiently and Hawkes Bay found themselves 23-7 up after half an hour.

Counties had managed only a turnover try to second-five Nigel Watson after a Ta'auso break and kick. Some of their defence was of the end-of-season variety, as was their ball retention, but they lifted their intensity in the second half.

A fine individual effort by replacement halfback Kane Hancy, after being put into a hole by No 8 Waka Setitaia, hauled Counties back into contention and an intercept from a horrible Bay pass saw Counties fullback Lance Easton bolt 65m to score. All of a sudden, it was 23-22 and Hawkes Bay had lost Lee and Berquist to substitutions.

Replacement hooker Karl Lowe burrowed over after Bay's excellent skipper, Lua Lokotui - Super 14 contract, anyone? - drove to the line.

That should have been that but a spirited Counties had Hancy skipping past more Bay tackles until the ball was worked to hooker Grant Henson, for a 30m sprint to the line.

Counties toiled away but the yellow card didn't help and the Bay ran down the clock on attack.

Counties-Manukau 29 (N. Watson, K. Hancy, L. Easton, G. Henson tries; B. Feeney 3 cons, pen); Hawkes Bay 30 (D. Waenga, D. Lee, K. Lowe tries; M. Berquist 2 cons, 3 pens, A. Clarke con). Halftime: 23-7