Rugby: Counties Manukau survive late 'Taniwha' scare

Ahsee Tuala of Counties Manukau dives in to score a try. Photo / Getty Images

Counties Manukau survived a determined Northland comeback to secure a hard-fought 40-24 bonus point win in a ITM Cup match at Pukekohe today.

While Counties Manukau dominated the first 40 minutes, Northland battled back into the match in the second half, winning the spell 17-13.

However, Northland's early domination in terms of territory and possession was not rewarded on the scoreboard, and Counties-Manukau battled through for the win.

Things had look promising early on when Northland halfback Rhyan Caine sliced through some lacklustre defence from the back of the scrum to touch down.

But seven minutes later, Counties Manukau roared into life, former All Blacks captain Tana Umaga sparking a four-try burst in the 15 minutes before halftime.

Quick ball from an attacking scrum saw Umaga break the Northland line with ease, then offload to flanker Fritz Lee on his shoulder.

Lee was followed across the line in rapid succession by lock Taiasina Tuifua, whose support play was superb throughout, prop Simon Lemalu and then wing Sherwin Stowers well after the halftime siren.

Northland struggled after losing one of their major attacking weapons when All Black Rene Ranger, starting at centre, left the field with a hamstring injury midway through the first half.

Down 7-27 at the break, Northland came out firing in the second spell and hit back with tries to Caine and flanker Dean Budd inside the first five minutes to close the gap to six points.

Counties Manukau increased their lead through the boot of fullback Tim Nanai-Williams and first five-eighth Dean Cummins, but only guaranteed the win when Ahsee Tuala latched on to a wayward Northland pass and sprinted away for a 72nd minute try.

Rugby sevens lynchpin DJ Forbes came off the bench for Counties Manukau to play the closing 25 minutes, further boosting his hopes of captaining New Zealand at next month's New Delhi Commonwealth Games.

Counties Manukau 40 (Fritz Lee, Simon Lemalu, Taiasina Tuifua, Sherwin Stowers, Ahsee Tuala tries; Tim Nanai-William 2 pen, 2 con; Dean Cummins pen, con) Northland 24 (Rhyan Caine 2, Dean Budd tries; Lachie Munro 3 con, pen). Halftime: 27-7.

- NZPA