Umaga-Marshall in battle for game time

For some players in the Canterbury team, the worth of their season is determined by All Blacks selection.

For others, like wing Tu Umaga-Marshall, just making the team on a regular basis is achievement enough. Hamstring trouble hasn't helped the former Wellington representative so far, nor the presence of youngsters Telusa Veainu and Patrick Osborne.

"You're telling me," said Umaga-Marshall, who will play on the right wing against Bay of Plenty tonight.

"With these two young fellas on the wings, you never know what's going to happen. They've been playing really well and I was just hopeful to try and get back in the 22.

"I've [also] had my fair share of injuries and having the hamstring was killing me. But at least I had some good company with me, with Sonny [Bill Williams] and Steve Fualau."

Umaga-Marshall made his return from three weeks on the sideline in last week's win over Auckland. A former national league basketballer, he rose to take the opening kickoff by Colin Slade which coach Rob Penney later said set the tone for an improved Canterbury performance.

With Slade out, Umaga-Marshall said he and Stephen Brett had been working on something similar.

"If Stevie can get them in the air, I'll get them," he said.

"We've got great kickers and Stevie can put it anywhere and Sladey can put it anywhere and then all my job is to catch them, I guess."

Counties Manukau's remarkable season showed no sign of abating after their convincing Tasman 23-3 in Pukekohe last night.

While the Counties backs continually opened up the Makos' defence, it was their forwards that did the key work by dominating the breakdown, Fritz Lee and Ronald Raaymakers standing out.

First five-eighth James Semple, who's on loan from Auckland, had a far better performance than against Waikato last weekend, especially with his deft kicking game.

There's little Tasman will be able to take from this loss, although Joe Wheeler was industrious at No8 and Ben Franks played to the level you'd expect from an All Blacks prop.

Scorers: Counties Manukau 23 (Ahsee Tuala, Sherwin Stowers tries; Tim Nanai-Williams 3 pen, 2 con) Tasman 3 (Steve Alfeld pen). Halftime: 13-3.

- © Fairfax NZ News