'Extra special': Counties Manukau captain savours emotional Ranfurly Shield win

Counties Manukau will face off with Hawke’s Bay next Saturday afternoon in Pukekohe to lock away the Ranfurly Shield for the rest of the year, after snatching a late 22-19 victory over Northland in round nine of the Hilux NPC competition.

A late AJ Alatimu penalty from the sideline clinched a famous triumph for the Reon Graham-coached Counties Manukau side, who stuck with Northland for the full 80-minute contest.

Young fullback Adam Morrison, out of Saint Kentigern College in Auckland, had two pivotal moments in the shield battle, charging down a Rivez Reihana conversion, minutes before a crucial try in the left corner.

But it was 100-cap Northland veteran Sam Nock who opened the scoring at Semenoff Stadium in Whangarei, before Sione Molia hit back 16 minutes later, in an even first quarter.

Northland headed into the sheds with a nine-point lead, but it was the challengers who stormed home to clinch a memorable and historic shield victory, their first since 2013.

Minutes after full-time, Alatimu struggled to put into words how he was feeling.

“It’s all full credit to the boys,” the match-winner said on Sky Sport.

“I backed the skipper’s call, just got to do my job and thank God it went over.

”I was just trying to zone everything out, but just line up the ball, count to four, and then kick and hope it goes over.“

For Tupou, who was a part of the Counties Manukau 2013 team which won the Ranfurly Shield, it was a memorable moment in his long career.

“It’s extra special to be honest,” Tupou said on Sky Sport post-match.

“The first time I was probably a little bit young and naive and we had a pretty star studded team. To come back and be at the end part of my career and be able to give these boys the experience of what it does.

“It’s just been a tough old season for us this is our finals, so we came here and we just gave them everything and so I’m just so proud of this group.”

Navigation Homes Stadium in Pukekohe will play host to the final shield challenge of the year, on Saturday, October 3, against Hawke’s Bay.