Wrong-option call has the Steelers stuck in the mud

By CHRIS RATTUE

North Harbour 15

Counties-Manukau 14

Mud, that old-fashioned rugby ingredient, stuck to everything connected with Counties-Manukau and North Harbour at Pukekohe Stadium.

As Karl Te Nana and Matua Parkinson headed to the showers after Harbour's slender win, one said: "I haven't played in stuff like that since I was at school."

Counties-Manukau's traditions may be in playing sparkling rugby, but for now it seems that their home venue will not play ball.

Last week, they began a four-match run of home games with a draw against Southland in dodgy conditions, but those were nothing compared with what greeted the teams and 2000 spectators on Saturday.

Counties-Manukau adapted to the brown sticky stuff better than North Harbour in many ways, but in the end it also helped the Steelers come unstuck with the aid of a murky refereeing decision.

With five minutes remaining, the home side turned down a short-range penalty from near the sideline in favour of a lineout, with the score at 14-15.

The chance of a big upset was about to come unstuck in the mud. Referee Glenn Wahlstrom produced a harsh crooked-throw call on replacement Steelers' hooker John Akurangi and North Harbour had the ball back, and their win.

Counties-Manukau captain Danny Lee was prepared to take the responsibility for the non-goalkick decision, but his coach, Andrew Talaimanu, was putting his hand up even higher.

Talaimanu said the players had wanted Blair Feeney to take the shot at goal. But he and co-coach Henry Maxwell sent out a message for the lineout option.

Grant Henson had scored a first-half try for Counties-Manukau from a lineout drive and the coaches believed that they had North Harbour "on a roll" and that the conditions would make the goalkick an awkward one.

"The players could have over-ruled us though," said Talaimanu.

The Steelers surely got this one wrong, even though Feeney had just missed from the same spot a few minutes earlier.

They had the better of North Harbour in set phases - twisting them off their scrum ball three times - and probably deserved an underdog's victory.

North Harbour were largely saved by a remarkable intercept from fullback Glen Osborne when home-team wingers Niva Tuuaso and Patrick Petelo had the line at their mercy. Osborne twisted and slithered to grab the ball as his side clung to their one-point lead.

It was a patchy performance from North Harbour, although their tries to Craig Newby and Parkinson were brilliantly worked in atrocious conditions.

They adapted far better to the mud in the second half - the introduction of Frano Botica and Mark Mayerhofler in the heart of the backline having an influence in that.

Harbour captain Mark Robinson accepted the "get out of jail card" in taking the four NPC points.

Counties-Manukau are hopeful that loose forward Koula Tukino, who wrenched his neck, will be fit for the Northland game.