Rugby: Bason gives Steelers an edge

Photo / Getty Images

Counties Manukau 32
Tasman 23

Counties Manukau might not have thrown the kitchen sink at Tasman, but they did throw the Bason on - and it proved decisive.

Counties' spluttering start to the season continued for much of yesterday's Championship encounter at Blenheim, but the replacement halfback took the good work of starter Augustine Pulu and kicked it up another gear. A tight game suddenly became a bit of a cruise for the visitors, although a late try to Tasman wing Mitchell Scott brought a bit of respectability back to the home side.

Counties move up to second in the Championship standings, one point behind Manawatu. Tasman remain rooted to the bottom, without a single point to show for their three outings.

Counties will now enjoy a rest during the week, before heading to Invercargill and a date with Ranfurly Shield holders Southland. While there is now added incentive, from a purely ITM Cup perspective Counties will know the opportunity to steal a win in the deep south has been made that much harder, with Southlanders tending to grow an extra leg when the Log o' Wood is on the line.

Thoughts on that match will have already started to form in the minds of coach Milton Haig and his assistant Tana Umaga, but they should also find time to reflect on a job mostly well done in Blenheim.

They were staked a seven-point lead in the game's first minute, when Pulu set wing Ahsee Tuala free after Tasman failed to deal with the kickoff.

Counties then entered a prolonged period of indifferent rugby, indiscipline and defence, with the occasional break-out to relieve the tension.

Finding themselves on the wrong end of an 8-4 first-half penalty count, the visitors could not get any roll on.

They might have felt aggrieved when the most blatant foul of the first half went unpunished. Fritz Lee was taken out in backplay, a piece of chicanery that resulted in a try to Joe Wheeler.

Early in the second half, Tasman drew level and that was when David Bason was called up from the bench.

Immediately he broke from deep to give Counties field position. A few quick phases later and Tasesa Lavea put Sherwin Stowers in for a neat try. Shortly after, Tuala cleverly stayed in the field of play to give Counties a buffer, before more excellent work by Bason put Stowers in for a double.

Scott scored from first-phase scrum ball, but by that time you could have forgiven Counties for allowing their thoughts to drift forward six days.

In yesterday's other match,a strong forward effort in the second half paved the way for Hawkes Bay to end Otago's unbeaten start to the Championship and emerge with a 27-13 victory at McLean Park in Napier.

In a scrappy match punctuated with handling errors, the home side's pack dominated proceedings to bag the second win of the Magpies' campaign.