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As it happened: Scrappy Steamers upset Counties to claim tight win in Pukekohe

August 23, 2018

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

FT: CM 17-22 BOP

Bay of Plenty's defence holds out and get the turnover when it mattered most. A kick into touch and this thrilling finish is in the books. Counties will be heartbroken knowing how close they were to at least a draw there. While the Steamers will be happy to take the win, they know they didn't convert their chances tonight. Ill-discipline and handling didn't help their cause but, a win is a win and to start the season 2-0 is pretty darn good. That's all from us tonight. Pо̄ marie koutou!

79min: CM 17-22 BOP

IT'S NOT OVER YET! Counties with a massive shove at the ruck and BOP collapse again! It's another penalty. Counties kick for touch. 5m lineout coming up.

78min: CM 17-22 BOP

Counties just got a bit ahead of themselves and it's a knock on at the ruck. Toma tried to pop to a nearby forward but no one was watching and there's a dropped ball. BOP scrum 15m from their line. Win this, and they'll likely win the game.

77min: CM 17-22 BOP

ANOTHER penalty for Counties after BOP illegally enter the ruck. Another lineout coming up. This time on BOP's 22m!

76min: CM 17-22 BOP

Counties get a great shove and BOP buckles, leading to a scrum penalty! Counties kick for touch and get a lineout on halfway.

75min: CM 17-22 BOP

BOP run it off the scrum but as they cross over into Counties' 22m, they lose the ball! There's no advantage so it's a scrum to the Steelers. Long way to go to score here but this may be their only chance to set something up.

73min: CM 17-22 BOP

A big hit on Furniss from two BOP defenders leads to a round of applause as the ball dies in the ensuing ruck. Furniss had no idea where he was when he went to ground and the ball got trapped while he tried to find support. BOP scrum coming up, 35m from Counties line. Big moment in the game coming up.

70min: CM 17-22 BOP

Counties look to run the ball out from their 22m after kick off but BOP won't budge. It leads to a kick that finds touch on halfway. BOP holding on so far.

68min: CM 17-22 BOP

CM TRY! There's no stopping them this time. BOP give away a free kick at the scrum and it's taken quickly by Henwood. He steps inside one and dives over to score. Back to within a one-try game. What have the Steelers got left in the tank?

66min: CM 12-22 BOP

CM NO TRY! The maul rumbles over but BOP get underneath and hold it up! 5m scrum coming up.

65min: CM 12-22 BOP

BOP are penalised and Counties kick for touch again. Another 10m lineout coming up.

63min: CM 12-22 BOP

Theres a stoppage in play as Laulala has gone down. The ref heads up to the TMO to check for foul play and there's a rather blatent head high tackle from Steel around the neck. Counties gets a penalty but that's it. Steel is lucky there. Counties lineout 10m from the BOP line with the restart. 

61min: CM 12-22 BOP

BOP TRY! BOP strike against the momentum! A big hit from Ardron pops the ball loose and BOP recovers. Judd sees space behind and kicks one over the top for Tiatia to chase from 30m out. He gets to it first and dives on the ball in the in-goal. Stunning try. Could that be the nail in the coffin?

57min: CM 12-17 BOP

Definitely feeling the changes already. Four scrum resets later and it's still not settled. Counties have the feed 30m out from the BOP line when it does set though.

55min: CM 12-17 BOP

Counties looking to bounce back after the kick off and they earn a lineout on halfway. Lots of changes coming in now from both sides. Lets see if it disrupts chemistry anywhere.

52min: CM 12-17 BOP

BOP TRY! Judd finally goes over! It took them another 13 phases after the scrum but finally the Steelers defence buckles and the halfback sneaks in with a dummy from behind the ruck 2m out. Dives under the posts and Bay of Plenty go back in front.

48min: CM 12-10 BOP

BOP look to bounce back and they're holding onto the ball. They rumble into the Counties 22m but after 12 phases, they come up short once again! Delaney gets isolated and the ball dies. But because they had forward momentum it's their scrum 10m from the Counties line. 

44min: CM 12-10 BOP

CM TRY! Counties jump in front with a beauty from Fosita. The first-five floats a magic skip pass to the wing to set up Molia before slotting a conversion from the sideline.

40min: CM 5-10 BOP

BOP get us going again.

HT: CM 5-10 BOP

Bay of Plenty get a penalty at the scrum and convert it into three points before heading to the sheds. The Steamers will be happy to get the last laugh of the half but disappointed on the whole they have failed to convert this massive advantage in territory and posession into a big lead. Counties are just hanging in there right now. Don't go anywhere. We'll be back soon with the second 40!

40min: CM 5-7 BOP

Scratch that! BOP will get the last chance! Counties look destined to score after a great run by Leger but as Counties try to recycle quickly, they lose the ball. It's kicked through by the Steamers and the chase is on. Another kick on halfway. Again 15m out but Laulala wins the final race. He gets to the ball but because he kicked the last one, it'll be a 5m scrum to BOP. Halftime hooter goes two seconds after he puts the ball down.

38min: CM 5-7 BOP

Counties have one last chance to get some points on the board after BOP knock the ball on while trying to run the ball out from kick off. Counties scrum just inside BOP's half.

36min: CM 5-7 BOP

CM TRY! Counties are back in the contest. After running back the dropout, they quickly earn a penalty for hands in the ruck. They forgo the three on offer and kick for the corner. 10m lineout, the maul is set and the Steelers rumble over the line with ease. Royal gets credited for putting the ball down.

33min: CM 0-7 BOP

Counties finally get some forward ball thanks to a line break by Molia. He's scooped up a loose ball and kicks ahead but as he looks to recover, collides with Tiatia10m short of the BOP line. Ref is happy with the clash and gestures for a 22m dropout.

32min: CM 0-7 BOP

Counties force another turnover but all they can do is clear. BOP now with a lineout on the 22m.

29min: CM 0-7 BOP

And the pressure doesn't let up! BOP opt to run the ball back after Counties kick and it's immediately proved to be the right choice as a swinging Counties arm leads to a high tackle penalty. BOP find touch and it's a 5m lineout!

28min: CM 0-7 BOP

Counties engage in a kicking battle with BOP but they come off second best. After a rally of 4 kicks, Tiatia finds space on the left wing and bounces one into touch. CM with a lineout just inside their 22m. Methodical play from the Steamers so far tonight.

25min: CM 0-7 BOP

BOP TRY! Bay of Plenty is in with Tiatia! Lovely skip pass from Judd to the wing and the fullback dives in untouched. Counties will need to find an answer in their team huddle under the posts because this is all one way traffic so far.

22min: CM 0-0 BOP

BOP on the attack again as they earn a lineout 10m short. Can they finally convert all this pressure?

19min: CM 0-0 BOP

BOP are right back on the pressure after Counties get pinned down in their 22m. They look to clear off the ruck with a box kick but it's charged down by Leaupepe. BOP try to recover the ball but there's a knock on. Counties scrum 15m from their line. Both territory and posession sit at over 80 per cent in favour of the visitors at the moment.

15min: CM 0-0 BOP

The Counties defence shuts up shop! 15 phases of ground and pound but BOP can't get anywhere and it leads to a penalty for not releasing. Counties kick for touch and get a lineout 10m from halfway.

13min: CM 0-0 BOP

BOP with a good attacking chance now after their scrum earns a penalty for the Counties front row collapsing. They reject the three on offer and kick for the corner. Lineout 15 from the Counties line coming up.

11min: CM 0-0 BOP

BOP get a penalty 35m out so Delaney steps up to take it. Not a bad choice after his 5-for-5 effort last week but he's hooked his first attempt tonight to the left. Counties get a 22m dropout.

8min: CM 0-0 BOP

Bay of Plenty have had all the early territory and posession but don't seem to know what they want to do with it. They've already kicked for the corner and put up a high bomb but both have been defused by Molia. The latest midair take leads to a penalty too so Counties get a lineout just inside BOP's half.

5min: CM 0-0 BOP

BOP NO TRY! Bay of Plenty are denied by the TMO early. A cheeky line break by Judd on the Counties 22m is created by a dummy to Carroll but in the process, Carroll collides with two Counties defenders. Judd runs through that hole to set up the try but the TMO says Carroll obstructed the defence. Fair call. Counties with a penalty on their 22m.

2min: CM 0-0 BOP

After getting the ball back from kickoff, Counties look to set an attack on halfway but the ball gets locked up and dies. They weren't making ground either so it's a BOP scrum on halfway.

KICKOFF

Counties get things underway in Pukekohe!

PREVIEW

BOP's Phil Burleigh makes a run. ITM Cup rugby union match, Counties Manukau v Bay of Plenty at ECOLight Stadium, Pukekohe, New Zealand. Friday 7th September 2012. Photo: Anthony Au-Yeung / photosport.co.nz

The Steamers are looking to keep their positive start to the 2018 season rolling tonight while the Steelers are hoping to bounce back after a tough first round.

Bay of Plenty stunned Ranfurly Shield holders Taranaki in the opening round last week with a 30-10 win but the same couldn't be said for Counties Manukau who suffered a close 14-20 loss to Auckland.

However, despite the form of both sides, tonight's contest could go either way based on history.

In 59 clashes, Counties have won 29 to the Bay's 28 with two draws also thrown in.

In their last match last September, the two sides battled to a 31-31 draw in Tauranga. Prior to that, in 2016 it was a win to Counties Manukau 39-34 and in 2015 it was Bay of Plenty 37-26.

Weather could have some impact on the match too with showers expected in Auckland tonight.

TEAMS

Counties Manukau: 1.Sean Bagshaw, 2.Joseph Royal, 3.Coree Te Whata-Colley, 4.Viliam Rarasea, 5.Matiaha Martin, 6.Mathew Vaai, 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.Luteru Laulala.

Substitutes: 16.Gafatasi Su'a, 17.Howard Sililoto, 18.Jarrod Firth, 19.Michael McKee, 20.Viliami Taulani, 21.Siaosi Nginingini, 22.Sam Furniss, 23.Cardiff Vaega.

Bay of Plenty: 1.James Lay, 2.Liam Polwart, 3.Jeff Thwaites, 4.Kane Leaupepe, 5.Aaron Carroll, 6.Tyler Ardron, 7.Mitchell Karpik, 8.Hoani Matenga, 9.Richard Judd, 10.Michael Delaney, 11.Matt Garland, 12.Terrence Hepetema, 13.Liam Steel, 14.Fa'asiu Fuatai, 15.Chase Tiatia.

Substitutes: 16.Angus McDonald, 17.Solomona Sakalia, 18.Ross Geldenhuys, 19.Baden Wardlaw, 20.Zane Kapeli, 21.Luke Campbell, 22.Jason Robertson, 23.Trael Joass.

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