Tasman upset Counties-Manukau in Pukekohe [Fairfax]

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UPSET WIN: Bryce Heem of Tasman makes a run against Hika Elliot of Counties Manukau.

 

Tasman have struck in Pukekohe for the second straight year scoring a deserved 40-20 NPC win over Counties Manukau tonight.

Following last year's 28-19 win in Pukekohe, championship team Tasman secured a four-try bonus in claiming Counties Manukau's premiership scalp.

Tasman's win was based around a dominant scrum and impressive set phase performance, despite trailing 17-16 at the break.

Tasman fullback and debutant Marty Banks opened the scoring with a 13th minute penalty success after a second high tackle on first five-eighth Hayden Cripps.

But it was Counties Manukau who opened the try count midway through the half when dangerous halfback August Pulu emerged with the ball after a well-controlled drive from an attacking Ron Raaymakers lineout win. 

A second Banks penalty narrowed the margin to 7-6 after 22 minutes.

Halfback Pulu was in the action again four minutes later, sparking an excellent try to No 12 Bundee Aki when he broke from an attacking maul, winger Tony Pulu delivering the final pass to the impressive midfielder for a handy 14-6 lead.

Tasman finally got their attack into gear after an intricate switch move saw Banks break well into Counties Manukau's quarter, flanker Liam Squire crashing over wide out from an overlap six minutes before the break. 

Further penalties by both Tuala and Banks saw Counties Manukau head to halftime with a slender 17-16 lead.

Tasman's forwards again impressed at the set phases during the half, although untidy early handling and penalty concessions stifled any attacking momentum.

A strong run by centre Kieron Fonotia saw left winger James Lowe held up right on the line nine minutes after the restart, Squire also narrowly losing the race on the dead ball line from a Cripps grubber kick off the resulting ruck.

Tasman's increasing territorial dominance eventually paid off when Shane Christie charged across from an attacking scrum as Banks' conversion put them ahead 23-17 16 minutes into the second half.

Counties Manukau substitute first five-eighth Ki Anufe and Banks traded further penalties at 26-20 before a 26th minute try to centre Kieron Fonotia after more incisive running by his midfield partner Tom Marshall helped push Tasman clear at 33-20.

Skipper Shane Christie's brave decision to take a scrum from a kickable penalty position was rewarded when Marshall scored off an accurate grubber kick by Cripps to seal Tasman's 20-point win.

Tasman 40 (Liam Squire, Shane Christie, Kieron Fonotia, Tom Marshall tries, Marty Banks 4 pens, 4 cons) Counties Manukau 20 (August Pulu, Bundee Aki tries, Ahsee