Counties Manukau: Book place in Premiership
Counties Manukau have secured promotion to the ITM Cup Premiership after beating Otago 41-16 in the Championship final on Friday.
After finishing the regular-season top of the standings, the Steelers outscored Otago five tries to one to claim their first provincial title since 1993.
Counties led 20-13 at half-time in Pukekohe courtesy of tries to August Pulu and Mark Selwyn, before running away with three late tries through Tim Nanai-Williams, David Bason and another by Pulu.
Otago threatened an upset when Adam Thomson scored their only try mid-way through the first half, but were unable to consistently threaten the hosts who ran away with the win.
The scorers:
For Counties:
Tries: Pulu 2, Selwyn, Nanai-Williams, Bason
Con: Kerr 4, Stowers
Pen: Kerr 2
For Otago:
Try: Thomson
Con: Dickson
Pen: Dickson 3
Counties: 15 Tim Nanai-Williams, 14 Tony Pulu, 13 Rey Lee-Lo, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 Sherwin Stowers, 10 Baden Kerr, 9 August Pulu, 8 Jimmy Tupou, 7 DJ Forbes, 6 Mark Selwyn, 5 Daniel Adongo, 4 Ronald Raaymakers, 3 Matt Talaese, 2 Mahonri Schwalger, 1 Simon Lemalu.
Replacements: 16 Suliasi Taufalele, 17 Maka Tatafu, 18 Sikeli Nabou, 19 Maama Vaipulu, 20 David Bason, 21 Kane Hancy, 22 Tyrone Lefau.
Otago: 15 Ben Smith, 14 Marshall Suckling, 13 Tamati Ellison, 12 Glenn Dickson, 11 Buxton Popoali'i, 10 Hayden Parker, 9 Fumiaki Tanaka, 8 Gareth Evans, 7 Lee Allan, 6 Adam Thomson, 5 Rob Verbakel, 4 Jackson Hemopo, 3 Tama Tuirirangi, 2 Liam Coltman, 1 Aki Seiuli.
Replacements: 16 Shota Horie, 17 Jacob Ellison, 18 Adam Hill, 19 TJ Ioane, 20 Peter Breen, 21 Jayden Spence, 22 Tony Enso.
Referee: Keith Brown
Comments
fiwiboy says...
Seems Otago's Japanese halfback signing, Tanaka, will be playing for the Highlanders next year!
Posted 23:38 27th October 2012
passtheball says...
Good game to watch. Counties are the team that can kill off a game in the last 15 as their skill and speed will beat tired legs. Otago tried hard but in the end Tana got the lads to believe in themselves and finish the job off. They should do OK in the Prem div.
I think the ITM has been a success with so many new and young guys getting plenty of game time.
Posted 09:48 27th October 2012
Carpelone says...
Well done. Otago were not easy to handle.
One of the best shirt around, too.
Posted 12:49 26th October 2012
Ferdie says...
enjoyable match to watch, until Pulu's second try early in second half CM had just a 4 point lead, they put in a great final 20 minutes. Pulu got man of the match though i thought there were few individual stars and a decent team effort from both sides, good honest rugby. Congrats to coach Tana Umaga and to CM on making the prem division for next year.
Posted 12:25 26th October 2012