It might sound nuts when a team loses by 36, but the Manawatū Turbos should have been leading Bay of Plenty at halftime in Tauranga. Instead, Bay of Plenty scored from the ensuing chaos 95 metres away. READ MORE:* Manawatū Turbos No 8 Brayden Iose relishes run of form* Milestone match for Manawatū Turbos captain Jamie Booth* Laumape flicks the Turbo switch against SouthlandIn the end, it made scant difference because Manawatū remained hopeful of returning to Tauranga or Rotorua for a Championship semifinal, as long as the cards fell against Taranaki and the Turbos were to tip over Counties Manukau at home next Saturday. Russell must keep his players' heads up, 10 of whom helped crunch Bay of Plenty 17-15 at Rotorua last year. Of greatest concern was the Turbos' scrum being pinged, chiefly because tighthead Samu Tawake was being popped by Chiefs loosehead Aidan Ross and hence the Turbos seldom transited halfway in the first 40.

Source: Stuff October 06, 2019 01:52 UTC