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Not even former All Blacks captain Kieran Read was able to stop Tasman from beating the Counties Manukau 41-24 at Pukekohe on Saturday night.
Read may have accomplished more than most rugby players during his brilliant career, but he said it meant a lot to him to make his Counties debut and it won’t be something he will forget.
“It was a very proud moment, it was a really great moment in my career. He’s been a little late, probably later than I expected, but it’s good to do it. “
Hannah Peters / Getty Images
Kieran Read joined in the celebrations when Dalton Papalii scored the Steelers’ first try.
Read would have loved to have shared this moment with many others, but due to coronavirus restrictions, he was unable to do so.
“It’s a shame,” he said.
“I had many friends and family, who would have liked to be here.
“My parents were here luckily so it was great that they came to see.”
The counties will play Hawke’s Bay in Napier next weekend, but Read revealed that he will not play, as the agreement between his Japanese club Toyota and Counties Manukau has some game restrictions, which included only playing 40 minutes in this game.
“We are working with my club in Japan in terms of minutes,” he said.
“So 40 minutes today and I felt good and we will work to progress as we go through the season.”
Stuff understands that Read will be available to play 80 minutes for the Counties in two weeks time, against Northland, but he may have to miss a game or two away from home after that.
“I’ll probably be fine from now on, but I won’t play every game,” he said.
“I’m not available for every game this year, so it will depend, but when I play from now on, I can play for as long as they want.”
This was Read’s first provincial rugby game in 11 years and he felt it was nice to take a trip back to this level of rugby in the twilight of his career.
“It’s been a long time and you can’t play this kind of football when you’re at the highest level with the All Blacks,” he said.
“We have a great team here and a lot of New Zealand rugby is at this level here and below. So I definitely feel the connection of this region and how much it means to a lot of the guys here. “
But this was a baptism of fire for Read and it was a sinister start from Tasman, with hooker Andrew Makalio coming off the back of a maul in the fifth minute. Makalio had his second try shortly after in a similarly close range fashion.
It wasn’t as if the Counties were being outmatched, but they conceded their third down in the 20th minute when Kerr’s pass was intercepted by Mark Telea and the attack was finished off by Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta.
Then 11 minutes later, Potu Leavasa drove for a Counties try when the Steelers attacked from a scrum under the Tasmanian posts, with Read helping on the drive.
All Black Dalton Papalii snuck in for a second Counties try shortly after, with Baden Kerr’s conversion making it 21-17 in Tasman’s favor.
Read did not return for the second half and Tasman was clearly more dominant during the final 40 minutes. Leicester center Faingaanuku ran wildly through a soft counties defense to try in the 53rd minute.
After that, Tasman seemed happy to continue adding to his score by three, with penalties from Mitch Hunt, while Viliame Taulani scored a consolation try for the Steelers in the 78th minute.
Take a look
Manukau Counties 24 (Potu Leavasa, Dalton Papalii, Viliame Taulani tries; Baden Kerr pen, 3 cons). Tasmania 41 (2 Andrew Makalio, Cigarette Lightning, Leicester Strain attempts, 4 cons by Mitch Hunt, 2 pens) HT: 17-21.
MVP Points: 3 Andrew Makalio, 2 Mark Telea, 1 Dalton Papalii.
