New Zealand: Counties win league phase

Photo: Lynn McConnell/Getty Images/Allbacks.com

Counties Manukau achieved the best result in their history with their first ever win over Auckland at Massey Park, Papakura. The same two teams had met five times previously, with last year's 35-29 win to Auckland showing that the gap was closing. There was only one try in the game, to prop Victoria Subritzky-Nafatali and Counties Manukau held onto their half-time lead of 7-3 through the second half.

However, as they were playing away Auckland retain JJ Stewart Trophy - the female equivalent of the men’s Ranfuly Shield - which they have held for 19 of its 20 year history.

Nonetheless win means that Counties Manukau finished top of the table in regular season play with 29 points with Auckland second on 26.

Canterbury ensured third place with 27-22 win in what was effectively a knock-out game at Manawatu. First half tries from Chelsey Smart and Stephanie Te Ohaere-Fox gave them a 15-3 advantage at the break and, although the home team battled back with three second half tries from Sam McIntosh, Selica Winiata and Aroha Nuku, held on with the help of scores from Olivia McGoverne and Elizabeth Pera and the boot of Kendra Cocksedge, taking her season's tally to 108, just two points behind Selica Winiata's record for a season set in 2012.

Even so, the losing bonus point gave Manuwatu’s hope that now rested on bottom-placed Bay of Plenty putting their best performance of the year against Wellington, but it was not to be as an Ayesha Leti-liga hat-trick, plus a score from Georgia Daals, gave Wellington not only a win but the vital bonus point that was sufficient to edge out Manuwatu out of the top four.

The final game of the day ended a miserable season for Otago, who lost all six of their games, going down this weekend 39-7 at home to North Harbour, who crossed the line six times to just one score from Otago.

Results

Counties Manukau 7 (Victoria Subritzky-Nafatali try; Hazel Tubic con) Auckland 3 (Emma Jensen pen). HT: 7-3

Otago 7 (Greer Muir try, con) North Harbour 39 (Briar McNamara, Florida Fatanitivake, Chelsea Alley, Rina Paraone, Charmaine Smith, Claudia McMeekin tries; Alley 2 con, pen; McNamara con).

Manawatu 22 (Sam McIntosh, Selica Winiata, Aroha Nuku tries; Krysten Duffill 2 con, pen) Canterbury 27 (Chelsey Smart, Stephanie Te Ohaere-Fox, Olivia McGoverne, Elizabeth Pera tries; Kendra Cocksedge 2 con, pen). HT: 3-15

Wellington 27 (Ayesha Leti-liga 3, Georgia Daals tries; Amanda Rasch con, pen; Lizzie Goulden con) Bay of Plenty 0.

Table

Team

Played

Win

Draw

Loss

For

Against

BP1

BP2

Points

Counties Manukau

6

6

0

0

218

33

5

0

29

Canterbury

6

5

0

1

229

108

4

1

25

Auckland

6

5

0

1

220

84

5

1

26

Wellington

6

4

0

2

149

128

3

1

20

Manawatu

6

3

0

3

153

122

4

3

19

North Harbour

6

2

0

4

116

161

2

1

11

Waikato

6

2

0

4

108

121

2

1

11

Otago

6

0

0

6

66

300

1

0

1

Bay of Plenty

6

0

0

6

26

228

0

0

0