Counties Manukau v Hawke's Bay

[Stargazer]

Our baby Magpie (Patrick Tuifua) has come on for his debut. Kaifa off.

[Tim]

How has Sotutu gone?

[Steven Harris]

@Tim superb ,his workrate has been very strong

[Steven Harris]

This been like a game nobody wants to win

[Stargazer]

IWL injured. Not looking good.

[Steven Harris]

Thats a seriously dumb penalty ,right up there with the BOP player v Auckland last weekend

[Higgins]

Will we rediscover our famous lineout maul drive that mysteriously disappeared last season?

[Stockcar86]

Unbelievable. Thanks ref

[Higgins]

Yeeeeeeees - penalty try for the win

[Grooter]

Yes boys!

[Steven Harris]

Wow ,full credit to the official for making the call ,some would have bottled that

[Nepia]

@Higgins I've been watching.

Ballsy decision by the ref.

I'll take this win too, two shit performances and two wins. Who would have thought.

[Stargazer]

Counties had that coming. Ill-discipline all game, often not penalised. Justice has been served.

I'd rather had a normal try though.

[Higgins]

@Stargazer No, not with McClutchie's sometimes on and sometimes off goalkicking.

[Higgins]

Final Score
Counties Manukau 24 - 25 Hawkes Bay

[Steven Harris]

@Stargazer agree they got away with a lot off the ball stuff

[Stargazer]

@Steven-Harris Still can't believe that he just looked away when Smith (I think it was him) was dropped on the ground well away from the ball. Sapsford's reaction said it all.

[Stargazer]

By the way, this was the first penalty try of the season.

The ref forgot to hand out a yellow card. Not that it would have mattered as it was full time.

[Magpie_in_aus]

Wow think we got lucky there didn't look collapsed.

Also why is Thompson not starting so far?

We have looked far from clinical or exciting this year but I will take squeaky bum wins.

[Stargazer]

@Magpie_in_aus Thompson didn't play last week, because he and Weber had only arrived back at training on Monday. This was his first game back, so not very strange that he came off the bench. I expect him to start next week, probably with Kereru-Symes on the bench.

Devery did some good stuff in the first half, his try, one really good turnover, good carries, but his line-out throws weren't good. I expect there to be a lot of rotation between him and KK-S, with Thompson starting most games, unless he doesn't play well.