Taranaki snatch late victory

Taranaki made it two wins from three in the Mitre 10 Cup this season after they beat Premiership rivals Counties-Manukau 30-27 on Saturday.

Their scorers were wing Waisake Naholo (2), centre Charlie Ngatai and hooker Ricky Riccitelli, with the latter coming in the 80th minute.

Tevita Nabura, Orbyn Leger and Joe Royal crossed for Counties, with Baden Kerr kicking 12 points in a painful defeat at Yarrow Stadium.

Taranaki led 11-10 at the break thanks to Naholo's crossing and the boot of Marty McKenzie, but after the interval it looked like the Steelers would get the four points, after tries from Leger and Royal put them 24-11 in the lead.

But the hosts hit back with a try from Ngatai before hooker Riccitelli's late crossing and McKenzie's conversion saw them seal a maximum.

The scorers:

For Taranaki:
Tries: Naholo 2, Ngatai, Riccitelli
Cons: McKenzie 2
Pens: McKenzie 2

For Counties:
Tries: Nabura, Leger, Royal
Cons: Kerr 3
Pens: Kerr 2

Taranaki: 15 Marty McKenzie, 14 Manasa Mataele, 13 Seta Tamanivalu, 12 Charlie Ngatai (c), 11 Waisake Naholo, 10 Stephen Perofeta, 9 Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 8 Toa Halafihi, 7 Lachlan Boshier, 6 Pita-Gus Sowakula, 5 Leon Power, 4 Brad Tucker, 3 Mike Kainga, 2 Ricky Riccitelli, 1 Mitchell Graham
Replacements: 16 Sione Lea, 17 Jared Proffit, 18 Asa Sorovaki, 19 Fin Hoeata, 20 Adrian Wyrill, 21 Kylem O’Donnell, 22 Johnny Fa’auli, 23 Declan O’Donnell

Counties: 15 Luteru Laulala, 14 Nigel Ah Wong, 13 Sam Furniss, 12 Orbyn Leger, 11 Tevita Nabura, 10 Baden Kerr, 9 Jonathan Taumateine, 8 Jimmy Tupou (cc), 7 Sam Henwood, 6 Ronald Raaymakers, 5 Matiaha Martin, 4 Viliame Rarasea, 3 Kalolo Tuiloma, 2 Gafatasi Su'a, 1 Pauliasi Manu
Replacements: 16 Joe Royal, 17 Coree Te Whata-Colley, 18 Sean Bagshaw, 19 Leroy Jack, 20 Jonathan Kawau, 21 Augustine Pulu, 22 Stephen Donald, 23 Tim Nanai-Williams