Rugby: Counties Manukau too slick for Manawatu

Fritz Lee of Counties Manukau scores a try against Manawatu. Photo / Getty Images

Manawatu's defence improved immeasurably but it wasn't enough to prevent Counties Manukau steaming to a 35-14 win in their ITM Cup rugby match at Pukekohe today.

Stung by last week's record 77-8 loss to Northland, Manawatu showed considerably more commitment but not enough class to prevent the hosts securing a bonus point and go provisionally top of the standings midway through the fourth round of matches.

Converted tries was the scoring method of the day, with Counties Manukau winning out by five to two.

Loose forwards Fritz Lee and Mark Selwyn crossed for the winners in the first spell while wingers Ahsee Tuala and Sherwin Stowers and fullback Tim Nanai-Williams snared the honours in the second, all converted by first five-eighth Baden Kerr.

Stowers' effort, which sealed a bonus point plus the outcome in the 61st minute, was a sizzling solo effort down the left flank where he used speed and footwork to leave five defenders sprawling.

However, the real Counties Manukau star was fellow-New Zealand sevens representative Lee, the burly No 8 prominent on both defence and attack throughout.

He scored the first try, set up by a Stowers burst, and was the driving force behind the next two tries.

Manawatu crossed in the eighth minute through winger Casey Stone and with 8min remaining via replacement first five-eighth Isaac Thompson.

However, for most of the match they continued to show a fragility on defence which most teams will look to exploit this season.

Counties Manukau bounced back from last week's narrow Ranfurly Shield challenge loss to Southland.

For several seasons the easybeats of the competition, their third win from four further mounts a strong early bid to finish in the top seven - thus qualifying for next year's premier division - if not the semifinals.

Counties Manukau 35 (Fritz Lee, Mark Selwyn, Ahsee Tuala, Sherwin Stowers, Tim Nanai-Williams tries; Baden Kerr 5 con) Manawatu 14 (Casey Stone, Isaac Thompson tries; Craig Clare con, Thompson con). Halftime: 14-7.

- NZPA