Counties Manukau 31
Wellington 25
Counties-Manukau took the game to a peculiarly listless Wellington in the first spell, playing with real intensity to totally dominate the home team and lead 23-3 at halftime.
Although Wellington came out in the second spell with more focus, Counties-Manukau proved equal to the task and held off a late Wellington surge to record their second win in as many games.
With Counties-Manukau player-coach Tana Umaga standing down today ahead of next weekend's Ranfurly Shield challenge against Southland, Reynold Lee-Lo pulled on the No 12 jersey and took over the tryscoring responsibilities as well.
He sidestepped his way to the line in the 14th minute, converting Counties-Manukau's possession and territorial domination into points on the board.
First five-eighth Baden Kerr converted, and the visitors continued to dominate, extending their lead in the 20th minute when winger Ahsee Tuala latched on to an ill-timed pass from Wellington fullback Apoua Stewart.
Tuala sprinted away for his third try in two games, Kerr added the extras and Wellington were looking shaky at 0-14 down with three-quarters of the game still to run.
Wellington's ball retention woes continued, and they continued to gift Counties-Manukau too much turnover ball.
Referee Shaun Elliott twice referred tryscoring decisions to the third match official, and twice Counties-Manukau were denied, as they continued to pound the Wellington line.
Wellington's sole points came from a 28th minute penalty, and although they finally managed some field position in the closing minutes of the first half, the Counties-Manukau defence held strong.
The second half saw Wellington up the intensity, but the well-drilled Counties-Manukau defence swarmed to cover every move until the 60th minute.
Wellington forced the turnover on their own 22, and launched a telling counter-attack, second five-eighth Sean Treeby breaking clear down the middle before offloading for Hosea Gear to score.
Treeby himself crossed two minutes later to further narrow the gap, but Tuala redeemed himself for an earlier knock-on with a try after Counties-Manukau moved the ball wide from a turnover.
Needing a converted try to close with one point, the Lions' razzle-dazzle football backfired with Tuala bagging his second try after a prop Jeremaiah Fatialofa broke free to set the flyer on a 50 metre dash to the tryline.
Wellington managed to claim a bonus point with Charlie Ngatai scoring in the 78th minute, yet it was too little to late for the home side as Counties-Manukau kept their 100% win record for the 2010 ITM Cup.
Counties-Manakau 31 (Ahsee Tuala 2, Reynold Lee-Lo tries; Baden Kerr 2 con, 4 pen) Wellington 25 (Hosea Gear, Sean Treeby, Charlie Ngatai tries; Fa'atonu Fili 2 pen, 2 con). Halftime: 23-3
- NZ HERALD STAFF and NZPA
