Relive all the action of 1 NEWS NOW's live coverage of today's Mitre 10 Cup match between Auckland and Counties Manukau at Eden Park in Auckland.
FULLTIME - Auckland 23 Counties Manukau 19
Auckland hold on to edge Counties Manukau 23-19, Alama Ieremia earns his first win as Auckland's coach in the 2018 Mitre 10 Cup premiership competition.
79 mins - Auckland 23 Counties Manukau 19
KNOCK-ON! It looked promising there for a minute for Auckland after a solid run from Jordan Trainor and Harry Plummer, but reserve hooker Leif Schwencke loses the ball forward five metres out from the try-line.
77 mins - Auckland 23 Counties Manukau 19
MISS! Harry Plummer misses a penalty kick at goal which looked to be straight forward. Counties Manukau are still in this game with two minutes left on the clock.
75 mins - Auckland 23 Counties Manukau 19
Coutnies Manukau are on the back foot as Auckland creep into their 22. The home team opt to keep the ball amongst the forwards and referee Glen Jackson blows his whistle. Counties are penalised for an offside play and Auckland choose to have a shot at goal.
59 mins - Auckland 23 Counties Manukau 19
THREE! Harry Plummer steps up and slots a difficult penalty at goal. He extends Auckland's lead to four-points.
52 mins - Auckland 20 Counties Manukau 19
TRY! Counties Manukau's other prop Howard Sililoto crashes over to score after an initial solid line-out drive from the visitors.
Counties' first-five Latiume Fosita has a chance to give his side the lead but his conversion attempt goes wide of the uprights.
47 mins - Auckland 20 Counties Manukau 14
PENALTY! Auckland turn down an easy three points at goal and opt for a line-out off a penalty. Counties Manukau defuse Auckland's attack and earn themselves a penalty with Mike McKee getting the penalty for his side after Auckland's halfback Leon Fukofuka failed to release the ball after being tackled.
45 mins - Auckland 20 Counties Manukau 14
Discipline is proving costly for Counties as Auckland kick for touch and earn themselves a line-out deep inside the visitors' 22.
HALFTIME - Auckland 20 Counties Manukau 14
The home team hold a slender lead over the visitors, Auckland has all the mometum heading into the break scoring 15 unanswered points.
36 mins: Auckland 20 Counties Manukau 14
TRY! Melani Nanai pounces on a loose ball and Counties Manukau fall asleep on defence with the Auckland winger bobbing and weaving his way to the try-line.
Harry Plummer misses his conversion attempt from the side-line.
31 mins: Auckland 15 Counties Manukau 14
THREE! Harry Plummer steps up and nails a penalty kick from easy range and gives Auckland a one-point lead. The first time of the match the home side have hit the front.
27 mins: Auckland 12 Counties Manukau 14
TRY! Auckland now trail by two points after a great surge and try by loose forward Blake Gibson.
Harry Plummer adds the extras.
18 mins: Auckland 5 Counties Manukau 14
TRY! Counties Manukau back their line-out and kick for touch after Auckland were penalised. The Counties forward pack rumble over the try-line and it is skipper Sam Henwood who comes up with the ball. His teammates give him a pat on the back as he runs back to his own half.
The conversion is good from out wide by Latiume Fosita.
15 mins: Auckland 5 Counties Manukau 7
Auckland's lfet winger Salesi Rayasi has scored the first five pointer for the home team after Counties prop Kalolo Tuiloma crashed over to score the first try of the match.
Counties lead Auckland 7-5 and Auckland need to defend their goal line with a defensive five metre scrum.
A new era of Auckland rugby begins today with coach Alama Ieremia hoping to revive the sleeping giants of provinical rugby after they narrowly avoided relegation from the premiership last season.
The face a new-look Counties side at Eden Park, with the Darryl Suasua-coached side defending the Dan Bryant Memorial Trophy after beating Auckland twice last season.
Teams:
Auckland: 1. Jarred Adams (Suburbs)* 2. Mike Sosene-Feagai (Mt Wellington)* 3. Marco Fepulea’i (Ponsonby) 4. Jamie Lane (Ponsonby) 5. Jack Whetton (Grammar TEC) 6. Dalton Papali’I (Pakuranga) 7. Blake Gibson – Captain (Ponsonby) 8. Akira Ioane (Ponsonby) 9. Leon Fukofuka (Marist) 10. Harry Plummer (Grammar TEC) 11. Salesi Rayasi (Marist)* 12. TJ Faiane (Pakuranga) 13. Tumua Manu (College Rifles) 14. Melani Nanai (Manukau Rovers) 15. Jordan Trainor (Ponsonby)
Bench: Leif Schwencke (Suburbs)*, Sam Prattley (Pakuranga), Taniela Koroi (Marist)*, Evan Olmstead (Suburbs)*, Hoskins Sotutu (Marist)*, Jonathan Ruru (University)*, Daniel Kirkpatrick (University)*, Jacob Umaga (Eden)*
Counties Manukau: 1.Howard Sililoto, 2. Joseph Royal, 3. Kalolo Tuiloma or Coree Te Whata-Colley, 4. Viliame Rarasea, 5. Matiaha Martin, 6. Mike McKee, 7. Fotu Lokotui, 8. Sam Henwood ©; 9. Te Aihe Toma, 10. Latiume Fosita, 11. Tevita Nabura, 12. Orbyn Leger, 13. Nigel Ah Wong, 14. Sione Molia, 15. Kalione Hala.
Reserves: 16. Gafatasi Su’a, 17. Mark Royal, 18. Coree Te Whata Colley or Abraham Falani, 19. Sikeli Nabou, 20. Matt Vaai, 21. Liam Daniela, 22. Cardiff Vaega, 23. Sam Furniss.
59 mins - Auckland 23 Counties Manukau 19
SHARE ME