Rugby: Bruce steers Waikato to much needed win

Callum Bruce scored 20 points in Waikato's 30-8 win over Counties Manukau at Pukekohe. Photo / Getty Images

Waikato warmed to their task after Callum Bruce turned up the heat to ensure they pocketed valuable Air NZ Cup rugby points against Counties-Manukau.

They won the fifth round match 30-8 at Pukekohe in what was effectively a Chiefs trial a week after losing to the Super 15 franchise's third member union Bay of Plenty.

It was very much against the run of play when Waikato snuck ahead 13-8 late in the first half before Bruce helped ensure just their second win of an unconvincing campaign.

The second five-eighth contributed 20 points, including a second-half try, as Waikato outplayed the home side after the break.

It took almost the entire first spell before Waikato imposed themselves on the game.

Counties-Manukau were in a threatening mood for 35 minutes but their dominance of possession and territory rewarded them only with a lone try to Tasesa Lavea midway through the spell.

The first five-eighth started then completed a sweeping move from inside his team's 22 when Waikato forgot to protect ball sitting on their side of the ruck.

It was quickly pinched and fed to Lavea as he broke clear before finding wing Tasesa Lavea, who took the ball close to the tryline where the ball was ripped from his grasp by Waikato skipper Liam Messam. But Messam then threw a wild pass over his own line and Lavea was on hand to fall on it.

A couple of Bruce penalties kept Waikato in the contest before they edged ahead for the first time in the 37th minute when new No 8 Alex Bradley detached from a scrum and fed Stephen Donald before the first five-eighth snuck through a small hole to score.

Bruce landed the conversion then stretched his team's advantage with a try 10 minutes after the interval when he ran hard on to a short ball from halfback Brendon Leonard

The former Otago representative quickly added a penalty then helped lay on Waikato's third try when he stepped inside his marker before offloading for wing Dwayne Sweeney to cross in the 64th minute.

Counties-Manukau were at their best when spreading the ball but the opportunities to do that dried up after halftime when Waikato's forwards gained the upperhand.

Waikato 30 (Callum Bruce, Stephen Donald, Dwayne Sweeney tries; Bruce 3 pen, 3 con) Counties-Manukau 8 (Tasesa Lavea try; Tim Nanai-Williams pen). Halftime: 13-8.


- NZPA