Scrappy Steelers

Counties-Manukau 25 Marlborough 7


Counties-Manukau guaranteed themselves a home semifinal in the NPC second division with a win over Marlborough in Pukekohe yesterday. But that was one of the few reasons for satisfaction for the Steelers in what was a scrappy, error-riddled clash heavily affected by showers.

Counties scored three tries to one - enough to confirm them in second place behind Hawkes Bay (who remained unbeaten with a 43-15 win over Wanganui yesterday), a standing which can't be changed next weekend when Counties meet Manawatu in Palmerston North and the Bay have the bye.

But the bumbling manner of the Steelers in making hard work of disposing of Marlborough will mean they will want to right matters next week. They also found themselves on the wrong end of a drastic penalty count from test referee Kelvin Deaker, with Counties penalised 11 times in the second spell alone.

"That's something were going to have to address against Manawatu," coach Mark Carter agreed. "A lot of penalties that we gave away were lazy and silly."

Carter also will be looking for a major improvement with the semifinal, almost certainly against Nelson Bays, looming.

"A couple of the boys may have been reading their press too much," he said.

However, there were a number of positive aspects in the game - notably the pace of the wings Tevita Tuifua and Lelia Masaga and the precise, tactical kicking of the inside backs, Kevin Farrell and Troy Nathan.

Against the run of play Marlborough took a 7-3 lead when lanky first five eighths Dean Devcich charged a kick down and centre Aaron Bancroft outflanked the Counties defence for the try.

Counties then realised that, with the ball greasy, tactical kicks and grubbers were the best policy, and soon Farrell engineered the first of Tuifua's tries for the home side to lead 10-7 at the break.

The result was quickly wrapped up early in the second spell when Marlborough's frailties under high kicks were further exposed leading to another Tuifua try and one to Masaga. Marlborough coach Dennis Brown was still hopeful of gaining the fourth playoff spot, but that's a long shot - Poverty Bay will have to beat North Otago next week as well as Marlborough beating East Coast.

Counties-Manukau 25 (T. Tuifua 2, L. Masaga tries, T. Nathan 2 con, 2 pen)
Marlborough 7 (A. Bancroft try, D. Devcich con)
HT:10-7

- HERALD ON SUNDAY