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Counties Manukau ran in five tries to beat Bay of Plenty 47-13 in their ITM Cup crossover clash at Pukekohe on Friday.

Counties Manukau ran in five tries to beat Bay of Plenty 47-13 in their ITM Cup crossover clash at Pukekohe on Friday.

Playing their third match in eight days, the Steelers showed no signs of fatigue as they raced to a commanding 34-8 lead at half-time thanks to scores from Adam Cathcart, Mark Selwyn, Baden Kerr and Reynold Lee-Lo.

With the all-important bonus point already in the bag, the hosts took their foot off the pedal in the second half and only crossed the whitewash again two minutes from full-time when Ma'ama Vaipulu put the icing on the cake.

Bay of Plenty could only manage two touchdowns in each half through Phil Burleigh and Dan Goodwin, whilst Nick McCashin kicked a penalty.

The scorers:

For Counties Manukau:
Tries: Cathcart, Selwyn, Kerr, Lee-Lo, Vaipulu
Cons: Kerr 4, Laulala
Pens: Kerr 3, Laulala

For Bay of Plenty:
Tries: Burleigh, Goodwin
Pen: McCashin

Counties Manukau: 15 Sherwin Stowers, 14 Frank Halai, 13 Rey Lee-Lo, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 Tony Pulu, 10 Baden Kerr, 9 August Pulu, 8 Fritz Lee, 7 Mark Selwyn, 6 Adam Cathcart, 5 Daniel Adongo, 4 Ronald Raaymakers, 3 Matt Talaese, 2 Mahonri Schwalger/Suliasi Taufalele, 1 Simon Lemalu.
Replacements: 16 Suliasi Taufalele/Mark Price, 17 Maka Tatafu, 18 Jimmy Tupou, 19 Maama Vaipulu, 20 David Bason, 21 Kane Hancy, 22 Ray Laulala.

Bay of Plenty: 15 Kenny Lynn, 14 Lelia Masaga, 13 Mafi Kefu, 12 Phil Burleigh, 11 Jack Wilson, 10 Nick McCashin, 9 Lewis Hancock, 8 Carl Axtens, 7 Luke Braid, 6 Tanerau Latimer (capt), 5 Keepa Mewett, 4 Culum Retallick, 3 Mike Kainga, 2 Dan Perrin, 1 Tristan Moran.
Replacements: 16 Nathan Harris, 17 Josh Hohneck, 18 Dan Goodwin, 19 Jesse Acton, 20 Josh Hall, 21 Simon Rolleston, 22 Lance MacDonald.

Referee: Mike Fraser