• Auckland led by just four points at the break with Counties coming back late-on in the opening spell
• The Storm were clinical enough in the second half to secure the bonus-point victory and a home semi-final

Auckland’s Storm have fought out a tough victory at home against local rivals the Counties Manukau Heat. The visitors were first on the board in what was a free-scoring opening half, but were pegged back soon after by the home side. The second half proved to be somewhat of a slog however, with Auckland taking the win in a tight finish, 38 – 31.

The Heat were out of the blocks early and got in front within the first ten minutes. No.8 Justine Lavea the protagonist with a strong push to the line from only a couple of metres out putting her side in front.

Off the back of the early score, the Storm came to life through Black Fern Ruahei Demant. The blue and whites were able to find good space out on the left before sending it back the other way and seeing the midfielder streak away for the try.

Counties knuckled down soon after however, going back to using their physicality up front to wear the Auckland defence down. The tactic worked to good effect with the Heat reclaiming their lead through lock Temira Mataroa on the 20-minute mark.

It looked to be an afternoon of contrasting styles with Auckland using the width to attack and Counties keeping it tight.

This proved to be true with Auckland’s second try and third tries, courtesy of Joeannha Naime-Purcell and Patricia Maliepo, coming off the back of almost identical breaks down the right-hand edge before the ball was shifted out to the opposite edge to allow both players to exploit a scrambling Counties defence.

Auckland’s bonus-point try was one out of the Heat’s playbook. Utilising their drive from a lineout close to the Counties line, the Storm were able to get a rumble on with Charmaine McMenamin claiming the score.

On the stroke of halftime, the visitors got themselves right back in the contest with tries to fullback Emily Kitson and lock Ilisapeti Molia.

The first saw a crossfield kick put up for an unmarked wing Lanulangi Veainu who was able to offload for Kitson to fall over the line in the corner. The second was courtesy of a sterling break down the right-hand edge before an offload inside to Molia allowed the Counties lock to stroll over untouched.

The Storm got the scoreboard ticking over first in the second half through a penalty to Patricia Maliepo as the rain started to come down.

The next 15 minutes proved to be more of an arm-wrestle with both sides showing plenty of enterprise in the wet, but unable to find the end result. The Storm were the first to find a way over the line next however, with No.8 Charmaine McMenamin claiming her second of the afternoon after a string of penalties in favour of the home side.

With just over five minutes to play in the match, the Heat were able to pull a try back and narrow the deficit through flanker Glory Aiono. The loose forward was able to saunter through a yawning gap in the blue and white defence line after some strong build-up play.

The try proved to be the final score in the match as Auckland saw themselves claim the victory by 38 – 31 and secure a home semi-final in the process.

Auckland Storm 38 (R Demant, J Naime-Purcell, P Maliepo, C McMenamin 2 tries; P Maliepo 5 conversions; P Maliepo penalty)

Counties Manukau Heat 31 (J Lavea, T Mataroa, E Kitson, I Molia, G Aiono tries; H Tubic 3 conversions)

Halftime: 28 - 24