Last minute penalty try gives Hawke's Bay narrow NPC win over Counties Manukau

A thrilling encounter took place between Counties Manukau and Hawke's Bay at Navigation Homes Stadium, Pukekohe, which was the first game of the second round of the Bunnings NPC.

The Steelers started well with All Black Hoskins Sotutu bagging a try in the fourth minute. Sotutu proved to be ball-hungry with a total of 22 ball-carries in the game.

In the eighth minute the Magpies couldn’t have scored a more forward dominated try, as they mauled their way to the line and hooker Jacob Devery crossed over it. With lots of back-and-forth action, Counties lead by 14-13 at the break.

In the second half Counties tried to play more controlled rugby, retaining possession and happy to play multiple phases to work their way towards the Magpies’ line, while Hawke’s Bay continued to play a strong kicking game to peg the Steelers deep in their half.

It all seemed to cancel each other out, and it wasn’t until the 64th minute that the first points of the second half were scored, as fullback Etene Nanai-Seturo used his pace to wriggle through the Magpies defence to score. The fullback covered a total of 117 metres in the game.

The Steelers thought they had done enough for their first win of the season when they stretched their lead to six points with three minutes remaining as Riley Hohepa kicked a penalty.

But with time up on the clock, the Magpies worked their way close to the Steelers’ line and when the maul collapsed referee Mike Winter immediately awarded a penalty try, to give Hawke’s Bay the victory by the narrowest of margins.