Counties Manukau kicked off their NPC second division campaign with a deserved 28 - 19 win over Manawatu at Pukekohe Stadium today.
Counties Manukau made good use of a strong wind in the first half to be 20-3 ahead at the interval. Manawatu closedthe gap to 25-19 with five minutes left however a penalty by replacement first-five-eighths Quinton Sanft made the game safe for the home side.
Manawatu would have secured a bonus point had first-five-eighths Anthony Papenfus not pushed a 30m penalty shot in front of the posts out to the left with the last kick of the game.
Counties Manukau 28
Tries - Amasio Valence, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Ramon Lindsay Penalties - Stephen Donald (2), Quinton Sanft Conversions - Stephen Donald
Manawatu 19
Tries - Aaron Palmer Penalties - Anthony Papenfus (4) Conversions - Anthony Papenfus
