{"id":4550,"date":"2016-09-23T21:40:20","date_gmt":"2016-09-23T09:40:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/?p=4550"},"modified":"2016-09-23T22:05:38","modified_gmt":"2016-09-23T10:05:38","slug":"steelers-surge-to-top-of-premiership","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/2016\/09\/23\/steelers-surge-to-top-of-premiership\/","title":{"rendered":"Steelers surge to top of Premiership"},"content":{"rendered":"

Follow @RedefinedRugby<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Although known for their flashy backs, Counties Manukau unleashed a powerful forward display to overcome Waikato 35-26 and leap to the top of the Mitre 10 Cup Premiership ladder in Pukekohe.<\/p>\n

It was destined to be a good day for the front rowers when Counties Manukau tighthead prop Kalolo Tuiloma crossed for a remarkable hat trick after just 17 minutes to stun Waikato early. The Mooloos looked fatigued from a brutal Ranfurly Shield challenge against Taranaki and Tuiloma swooped with three well taken tries. It was the first hat trick for a prop in the National Provincial Championship since Wellington\u2019s Brian McGrattan in 1984 and left Waikato needing to chase the game.<\/p>\n

Needing something special to get back in the game, Waikato got it through dynamic midfielder Willis Halaholo who cut through the Steelers defence to feed right wing Iliesa Ratuva for a try against the run of play.<\/p>\n

The try served to quell the Steelers early momentum and gave the visitors a chance to rally. Waikato first five Sam Christie got some much needed territory for the under fire visitors to slow the scoring before Piers Francis knocked over a penalty to close out the half 22-5 to the Steelers.<\/p>\n

Counties Manukau continued their forward domination in the second half with a try to hooker Gafatasi Su\u2019a from a line out drive to make it 27-5. If Waikato were hoping for respite upfront from Counties Manukau, it wasn\u2019t coming from the bench as recent All Blacks Pauliasi Manu and Hika Elliot came on to the field.<\/p>\n

While the forwards were on song for Counties, the contribution of 9-10 combination Augustine Pulu and Piers Francis cannot be discounted. Pulu was dynamic with ball in hand and powerful on defence while Francis was precise with his line kicking and decision making.<\/p>\n

Waikato came back with tries to lock Brad Tucker and replacement prop Steven Misa to secure a four try bonus point but it was the Steelers day as Pulu set up wing Sione Fifita to confirm the bonus point 35-26 win.<\/p>\n

The victory has taken Counties Manukau to the top of the ladder on 24 points but they have played two more games than second placed Canterbury on 21 points. Waikato have moved to clear fourth ahead of Auckland courtesy of their four try bonus point.<\/p>\n

Augustine Pulu said: \u201cWe have a couple of good ball runners so it\u2019s easy for me because our forwards are moving in the right direction. Credit to our forwards tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n

SCORERS:
\nCOUNTIES MANUKAU – 35
\nTries: Kalolo Tuiloma (1,10,16),Gafatasi Su’a (42),Sione Fifita (62)
\nPenalties: Piers Francis (33,60)
\nCons: Piers Francis (2,17)<\/p>\n

WAIKATO – 26
\nTries: Iliesa Ratuva (24),Brad Tucker (52),Steven Misa (66),Jason Robertson (74)
\nCons: Sam Christie (53),Jason Robertson (67,75)
\nHT: 22-5<\/p>\n

\n

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 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Follow @RedefinedRugby Although known for their flashy backs, Counties Manukau unleashed a powerful forward display to overcome Waikato 35-26 and leap to the top of the Mitre 10 Cup Premiership ladder in Pukekohe. It was destined to be a good day for the front rowers when Counties Manukau tighthead prop Kalolo Tuiloma crossed for a…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3348,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"Steelers surge to top of Premiership\r\nhttp:\/\/wp.me\/p4wlzH-1bo","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[34],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4550","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-npc-national-provincial-championship"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/mitre10.jpg?fit=1024%2C356&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p4wlzH-1bo","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":5597,"url":"https:\/\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/2017\/04\/07\/provincial-barbarians-five-potential-selections\/","url_meta":{"origin":4550,"position":0},"title":"Provincial Barbarians: Five potential selections","author":"admin_hland","date":"April 7, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Follow @RedefinedRugby The DHL NZ Lions Series 2017 kick offs when the British & Irish Lions take on the New Zealand Provincial Barbarians in Whangarei on 3 June \u2013 but who will take the field for the Barbarians? Made up of players from outside the frontline Investec Super Rugby squads,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "RugbyHeartland News"","block_context":{"text":"RugbyHeartland News","link":"https:\/\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/category\/rugbyheartland-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/slide_tempLions.jpg?fit=1024%2C356&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/slide_tempLions.jpg?fit=1024%2C356&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/slide_tempLions.jpg?fit=1024%2C356&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/slide_tempLions.jpg?fit=1024%2C356&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":6692,"url":"https:\/\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/2017\/11\/08\/mitre-10-cup-unions-make-their-2018-crossover-match-selections\/","url_meta":{"origin":4550,"position":1},"title":"Mitre 10 Cup Unions make their 2018 crossover match selections","author":"admin_hland","date":"November 8, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Follow @RedefinedRugby Representatives from the 14 Mitre 10 Cup Provincial Unions have met to pick their opposition for crossover matches between the Premiership and Championship teams for the 2018 season. With Waikato and Wellington officially swapping sides of the two-column table, Waikato will play the 2018 season in the Championship\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "NPC - National Provincial Championship"","block_context":{"text":"NPC - National Provincial Championship","link":"https:\/\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/category\/npc-national-provincial-championship\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/m102017.jpg?fit=1200%2C240&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/m102017.jpg?fit=1200%2C240&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/m102017.jpg?fit=1200%2C240&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/m102017.jpg?fit=1200%2C240&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/m102017.jpg?fit=1200%2C240&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":9672,"url":"https:\/\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/2019\/11\/07\/the-draw-construction-has-begun-for-the-2020-mitre-10-cup\/","url_meta":{"origin":4550,"position":2},"title":"The draw construction has begun for the 2020 Mitre 10 Cup!","author":"admin_hland","date":"November 7, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"The first steps in shaping the draw for the 2020 Mitre 10 Cup are underway with the 14 Provincial Unions making their selections for crossover matches between the Premiership and Championship divisions this week. Counties Manukau and Bay of Plenty will officially swap places, with the latter promoted into the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "NPC - National Provincial Championship"","block_context":{"text":"NPC - National Provincial Championship","link":"https:\/\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/category\/npc-national-provincial-championship\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/news19a.jpg?fit=995%2C621&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/news19a.jpg?fit=995%2C621&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/news19a.jpg?fit=995%2C621&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/news19a.jpg?fit=995%2C621&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":8191,"url":"https:\/\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/2018\/11\/07\/crossover-match-selections-determined-for-2019-mitre-10-cup\/","url_meta":{"origin":4550,"position":3},"title":"Crossover match selections determined for 2019 Mitre 10 Cup","author":"admin_hland","date":"November 7, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Crossover match selections determined for 2019 Mitre 10 Cup The first steps in creating the 2019 Mitre 10 Cup draw have been taken with representatives from the 14 Mitre 10 Cup Provincial Unions meeting to pick their opposition for crossover matches. 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Photo \/ GettyThere will likely again be no Battle of the Bridge in ITM Cup competition for 2016. The annual North Harbour-Auckland grudge match had to be played as a pre-season fixture in 2015 as neither union was able to nail down\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "ITM Cup"","block_context":{"text":"ITM Cup","link":"https:\/\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/category\/itm-cup\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/rhlad_news1.jpg?fit=1024%2C356&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/rhlad_news1.jpg?fit=1024%2C356&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/rhlad_news1.jpg?fit=1024%2C356&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/rhlad_news1.jpg?fit=1024%2C356&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4993,"url":"https:\/\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/2016\/11\/08\/draw-construction-for-mitre-10-cup-2017-under-way\/","url_meta":{"origin":4550,"position":5},"title":"Draw construction for Mitre 10 Cup 2017 under way","author":"admin_hland","date":"November 8, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Follow @RedefinedRugby Draw construction for Mitre 10 Cup 2017 under way Teams make crossover match selections Shaping the draw for the 2017 Mitre 10 Cup is under way with the 14 teams making their selections for crossover matches, New Zealand Rugby has announced. 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