Miter 10 Cup: Kieran Read signs in New Zealand with a fairytale ending

Former All Blacks captain Kieran Read emerged triumphant in what will likely be his last game played on New Zealand soil.

Counties Manukau’s impressive 31-27 win over Taranaki in Inglewood on Sunday was the 35-year-old’s last outing in this year’s Miter 10 Cup, before he turned his attention to Toyota Verblitz, and the No. 8 veteran. made a highly influential display. in his swan song.

While there are still two rounds left in the regular season, Read’s deal with his club in Japan allowed him to play just a handful of games in his cameo campaign with the Steelers.

Fittingly, for a man who played 127 tests before retiring from international rugby after last year’s World Cup, and who has essentially seen it all in the sport, here he was, ending up somewhere in a small New Zealand town. that surely had never stepped on. in before. And winning for the first time with Counties.

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Read’s influence on the outcome turned out to be massive, in a game in which Counties finished with 14 men and they were forced to hold out for more than seven minutes after the full-time horn as Taranaki failed to pull off a late miracle in the TET stadium.

After making the last pass in two of the Steelers’ four attempts, Read triumphed with a huge ruck victory that led to Etene Nanai-Seturo’s try in the 76th minute, which ultimately turned out to be the winner of the match.

The Steelers kicked to a lineout on the 22-meter, and Nanai-Seturo, who was injected from the bench, produced a brilliant 30-meter slash run and dove to seal a bonus points victory that lifts the counties off the bottom of court. Championship division ladder, after Manawatū had previously surpassed them with his victory over Southland.

Read wasn’t made there though, with a grand tackle to dislodge the ball on a Lukas Halls charging in another great late act, before his ruck fumble penalty win on the last all-conquering play, which finally allowed the full-time whistle to blow.

Minutes earlier, the visitors had seen backup prop Clinton Malolua sanctioned with a yellow card by referee James Munro after repeated scrum infringements, and had to desperately put up with a Taranaki side that, after consecutive defeats, remains fourth in the championship .

The Amber and Blacks had played from the front, following Stephen Perofeta’s graceful attempt in the 19th minute, but with their lineout in absolute disaster, they let the visitors in.

The counties responded in the 34th minute, with Sione Fifita making another big bang, unloading Read well, who then stepped forward for Jason Robertson, the top five, to enter.

However, in the blink of an eye, the hosts regained their lead, thanks to winger Lewis Ormond’s impressive finish and a touch and go call from TMO.

Thanks to a good ball from Brayton Northcott-Hill, Ormond charged down the left flank and on the desperate entrance of Matiaha Martin, he took to the air for a sensational corner shot, and TMO Max O’Leary ordered Munro to will stick with his on- field decision to ‘try’, after multiple inspections of the Ormond fleet’s footwork in and around the white paint.

But, after a Robertson penalty cut the margin to 12-10 at halftime, two quick attempts in the second half suddenly sent the Steelers fast forward 17-0 and up a dozen.

First they benefited from a powerful scrum and Read expertly controlled the ball at his feet and then he landed very well for midfielder Jonathan Taumateine ​​to launch, and then just three minutes later it was winger Kirisi Kuridrani. running up, he had come with a heavy load. by Alamanda Motuga and sublime footwork by Nanai-Seturo.

Taranaki wasn’t going to walk away though, and took the four minutes to strike back when, ironically, they attacked from their underperforming lineout, with Mitchell Crosswell claiming the short-range serve and charging his way.

Then, shortly before dropping the ball near the line, center Sean Wainui rose in the 64th minute, thanks to some lovely volleys and link play from Jared Proffit, Wawrick Lahmert and Lachlan Boshier.

Jayson Potroz’s conversion tied the scores at 24-24, then, with 10 minutes to go, the fullback scored a penalty to put the hosts up three.

But then came Read and his fairy tale ending.

TAKE A LOOK

Manukau Counties 31 (Jason Robertson, Jonathan Taumateine, Kirisi Kuridrani, Etene Nanai-Seturo tries; Robertson 4 scam, pen) Taranaki 27 (Stephen Perofeta, Lewis Ormond, Mitchell Crosswell, Sean Wainui tries; Jayson Potroz 2 scam, pen). HT: 10-12.

MVP Points: Kieran Read 3, Etene Nanai-Seturo 2, Alamanda Motuga 1.