Wellington blown away by Counties
Counties Manukau thrashed the Wellington Lions 55-7 in an NPC Round Seven match, a result that makes it mathematically difficult for the 2013 runners-up to avoid relegation to the second tier Championship.
The season for Chris Boyd's men is a difficult one to comprehend, crippled with the worst injury toll in the competition, which in turn has forced selection rotations.
This, in turn, has led to the greatest enemy of this Wellington team.
Their confidence looks shot, and the grand cliché that winning is a habit unfortunately applies to losing as well.
In the opening exchanges Wellington looked up for the contest, but Augustine Pulu picked up the ball and found the visitor's tight defence non-existent and strolled directly through the heart of the Lions' formation with two minutes on the clock.
Five minutes later Suli Taufalele, after Counties had dismantled Wellington's line-out, the big hooker crossed, again making a mockery of the forward line of the tourist's defence.
It was 14-0 after nine minutes and at this stage there was subtle dropping of the heads from the Lions players.
Throughout the match there were pockets of resistance from the cellar dwellers, but even when they were able to gain parity finishing or turnover ball would let them down.
* In other Saturday action North Harbour added the scalp of Ranfurly Shield holders Hawke's Bay to those of NPC Premiership and Championship leaders Canterbury and Manawatu with a 28-25 win at Albany on Saturday.
* The Manawatu Turbos have beaten their third NPC Premiership opponent with a gritty 22-20 win over Waikato in the first of three Saturday Round Seven matches.
All Saturday's scores and scorers!
Waikato 20-22 Manawatu
The scorers:
Waikato:
Try: Webber
Pens: McKenzie 5
Manawatu:
Try: Emery
Con: Rure
Pens: Rure 2, Black 3
Counties Manukau 55-7 Wellington
The scorers:
Counties:
Tries: Pulu 2, Taufalele, Halai, Tuala, Nanai-Williams 2
Cons: Tuala 5, Nanai-Williams, Stowers
Pens: Tuala, Nanai-Williams
Wellington:
Try: Curtis
Con: Ripia
North Harbour 28-25 Hawke's Bay
The scorers:
North Harbour:
Tries: Devcich, Vaega, McGahan
Cons: McGahan 2
Pens: McGahan 3
Hawke's Bay:
Tries: Wilson, Fruean, Edmonds
Cons: West, Berquist
Pen: West 2
