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As it happened: Taranaki break Counties' hearts with late game-winner to win seesaw Mitre 10 Cup clash

August 29, 2018

Relive 1 NEWS NOW's live update's of tonight's Mitre 10 Cup clash between Counties Manukau and Taranaki at Navigation Homes Stadium in Pukekohe.

FT: CM 19-26 TAR

Taranaki's defence holds as Counties get within 5m of the line before the ball gets held up and can't go anywhere. The hooter's gone so there's no need for a scrum. Taranaki sneak away with a win after a brilliant comeback from Counties. That's all from us tonight folks. Have a good one!

79min: CM 19-26 TAR

Counties have a scrum 25m from Taranaki's line here after the visitors lose the ball trying to chew up the clock. Right down to the wire.

77min: CM 19-26 TAR

The good news is Henwood has managed to walk himself off the field but his night is definitely done. Taranaki have three minutes to hold on here.

77min: CM 19-26 TAR

TAR TRY! Taranaki strike back! Waaka gets his second after a bone-crunching hit from kick off. Henwood is hit hard and loses the ball on his 22m. Taranaki recover it, shovel it to the left with numbers and the fullback goes in to score. Of concern though is Henwood never got up after the hit and there's a stretcher on the field.

75min: CM 19-19 TAR

CM TRY! WHAT A RUN FROM TONI PULU! He gets the ball on the right wing from a skip pass by Leger. Bumps off Waaka and steps inside Mataele. Steps inside another and pins his ears back with the posts in sight. Dives in underneath to score! All tied up!

72min: CM 12-19 TAR

Counties steal the ball at the lineout but can't hold onto it. They tried a couple of hit ups in the midfield but that's lead to a held up ball that goes nowhere so Taranaki win a scrum. Still, pressure is on Taranaki here. Their feed 8m from their own line.

70min: CM 12-19 TAR

Taranaki playing methodical rugby here and keeping Counties pinned in their half. Counties finally turn the ball over just outside their 22m after 12 phases and Leger puts a mighty thump on it and it's a beauty. Bounces into touch and puts pressure on Taranaki. Bulls lineout 15m from their line.

67min: CM 12-19 TAR

Counties continue to be their own biggest enemies as they cough the ball up on halfway after rushing a free kick with a quick tap. Taranaki scrum to come.

64min: CM 12-19 TAR

Counties were back on attack after Taranaki gave away their first penalty of the second half but the lineout throw 15m from Taranaki's line is a shocker and the Bulls recover it. Waaka clears and Taranaki will set up their defence on halfway. Can Counties find the hole to tie this up?

61min: CM 12-19 TAR

TAR TRY! Waaka goes in on the right corner. The lineout throw goes over the top of everyone but it's recovered by Walden in the midfield and he runs it into Counties' 22m. It's quickly recycled with numbers to the right and Counties can't reset in time. The fullback dives in to move his personal tally to 14 points. 

59min: CM 12-14 TAR

And once again, the whistle hurts Counties. They muscle their way into Taranaki's 22m through 11 phases of play but it comes undone after they don't release the ball at the ruck. Taranaki clear and it's a beauty from Waaka. Lineout 10m inside Counties' half.

57min: CM 12-14 TAR

TAR THREE! Taranaki take the lead through Waaka's boot after Counties concede their fifth penalty of the half. Discipline proving to be a real issue for them so far and the visitors are happy to keep putting the pressure on.

55min: CM 12-11 TAR

Counties try their best to run it out but there's no way through so they go to the clearing kick. It's an absolute shocker off the side of the boot. Taranaki lineout 10m from Counties' line.

53min: CM 12-11 TAR

Taranaki go within inches of scoring but a try-saving tackle sees Mataele lose the ball as he dives for the line. Ugly passage of play there from Taranaki's attack. All over the place and Mataele looked desperate trying to make something happen that wasn't on. Counties scrum on their 5m.

50min: CM 12-11 TAR

Counties slowly make their way into Taranaki's territory through 10 phases of play but a big hit on Leger sees the ball come loose. It's kicked ahead by Taranaki and chased into Counties' 22m. Counties recover and try to clear but there's another knock on so it'll be a Taranaki scrum 20m from the Steelers' line.

47min: CM 12-11 TAR

TAR THREE! Counties are penalised again, this time for a high tackle and Waaka steps up from 25m out to the right of the posts. Slots it down the middle to cut the deficit to one point.

46min: CM 12-8 TAR

Taranaki on attack now thanks to a pair of penalties. This second one gives them a lineout on Counties' 22m.

43min: CM 12-8 TAR

Taranaki were under early pressure from Counties but a knock on has given them some breathing space. It's a scrum on their 22m.

40min: CM 12-8 TAR

Back underway through Counties.

HT: CM 12-8 TAR

Sorry about that folks. We had some technical difficulties which robbed us of updating the game but at halftime it's still Counties in front thanks to a try to Nabura. Waaka responded late with a penalty.

24min: CM 7-5 TAR

Taranaki's defence holds! Counties try a run down the blindside but the runner is bundled into touch 10m from the line.

21min: CM 7-5 TAR

Don't see that often. Counties are penalised for pulling down the Taranaki jumper which leads to a scuffle. Taranaki instigated it so the ref reverses the penalty and allow Counties to kick for touch instead! It's their lineout 10m from the Taranaki line.

20min: CM 7-5 TAR

Counties build good pressure and get to within inches of the line before firing to the backs but that proves costly. Boshier comes out of the line for a solid tackle and gets over the ball. Counties won't release and are penalised for doing so. Taranaki clear for touch and get a lineout 25m from their own line.

18min: CM 7-5 TAR

Good defence from Counties denies Taranaki. They try a play in the midfield but Fosita gets held up and a maul is called. It goes to ground and there's no way the ball is coming out so it's a scrum to Counties. It gets even better as Taranaki are then penalised for collapsing the following scrum. They kick for touch and it's a Counties lineout on halfway.

15min: CM 7-5 TAR

Taranaki right back on the attack after Counties are penalised shortly after the restart for not releasing. Taranaki kick for touch and get a lineout just inside Counties' 22m.

13min: CM 7-5 TAR

CM TRY! Counties strike through Tuiloma. A nice break from Toma after the lineout gets them close and from there, Counties just use the forward momentum until the big man steamrolls his way over the chalk. 

11min: CM 0-5 TAR

Counties can't strike as Taranaki steal the ball at the lineout but they're not out of the woods yet. The clearance isn't great so it's another Counties lineout - this time on Taranaki's 22m.

9min: CM 0-5 TAR

Counties with a good attacking chance after earning a penalty from a dangerous tackle. They forgo the three and kick for touch. It's their lineout 15m from Taranaki's line.

8min: CM 0-5 TAR

Counties lose 15m as Taranaki's rushing defence catches them out on back-to-back phases so they kick and find touch with a nice clearing punt. Taranaki lineout just inside their 22m.

5min: CM 0-5 TAR

TAR TRY! Taranaki are in this time. Tamanivalu makes a linebreak on halfway after a great late ball from Riccitelli and finds support from Vaeno. Vaeno with the simple draw and pass on Counties' 22m and Boshier takes it the rest of the way to score.

3min: CM 0-0 TAR

Taranaki pin CM in their 22m with a clearing kick from the scrum and it almost leads to the opening try after Counties' clearance is charged down. But the ball rolls just dead and they survive. 22m dropout coming up.

2min: CM 0-0 TAR

First scrum of the night already after Laulala drops a great skip pass from Leger. Nothing wrong with it. Maybe some dew on the ball? Taranaki scrum 10m from halfway in their territory.

KICKOFF

Taranaki gets us going!

PREVIEW

Angus Ta'Avao of Taranaki in the tackle of Suliasi Taufalele during the  ITM cup rugby union match, Taranaki v Counties Manukau  played at yarrow Stadium, New Plymouth, New Zealand. Thursday 14th August 2014. 
Photo John Velvin/www.photosport.co.nz

While tonight's contest isn't a Ranfurly Shield challenge, it's still important to hosts Counties Manukau.

After two rounds of play, the Steelers are the only side in the Premiership without a win but they face stiff competition in Taranaki.

After their shock 30-10 loss to Otago in the opening round, the Bulls bounced back in style last week to beat Manawatu 41-21 and defend the Log o' Wood.

Add to that the inclusion of All Black-in-waiting Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi and Counties know they have their work cut out for them.

History also isn't on Counties side with Taranaki winning five of the nine contests between the two - the Steelers have won two with the other two matches ending in draws.

TEAMS

CM: 1: Sean Bagshaw 2: Joe Royal 3: Kalolo Tuiloma 4: Viliame Rarasea 5: Matiaha Martin 6: Matthew Vaai 7: Sam Henwood 8: Savelio Ropati 9: Te Aihe Toma 10: Latuime Fosita 11: Tevita Nabura 12: Orbyn Leger 13: Nigel Ah Wong 14: Toni Pulu 15: Luteru Laulala

Reserves: Gafatasi Su’a, Howard Silioto, Coree Te-Whata-Colley, Mike McKee, Viliami Taulani, Liam Daniela, Sam Furniss, Kalione Hala

TAR:  1. Reuben O’Neill 2. Ricky Riccitelli 3. Angus Ta’avao 4. Jarrad Hoeata 5. Jesse Parete 6. Mitchell Crosswell 7. Lachlan Boshier 8. Pita Sowakula 9. Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi 10. Daniel Waite 11. Manasa Mataele12. Teihorangi Walden 13. Seta Tamanivalu 14. Latu Vaeno 15. Beaudein Waaka

Reserves: 16. Donald Maaka 17. Jared Proffit 18. Chris Gawler 19. Kane Thompson 20. Toa Halafihi 21. Logan Crowley 22. Ciarhan Matoe 23. Regan Ware

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