|
Congestion at the top |
|
|
|
Written by Site Admin
|
|
Monday, 23 April 2007 |
In the wake of the Manawatu Rugby Union's review to stiffen up the club competition, it is ironical that 10 senior first teams appear to be on the pace after Saturday's games.
The competition is so tight that Marist plunged from second to sixth after losing to College Old Boys in front of a big throng at Ongley Park.
Bush came back into top six contention after beating Varsity, but the students will be a different proposition when their five best men return from the New Zealand Universities tour in a week's time.
COB welcomed back New Zealand sevens player Junior Tomasi Cama and even though it lost player-coach Blair Campbell for six weeks with a broken thumb, has ample depth to cover. Also out injured was Turbos wing Andre Taylor, but it didn't affect the team's efficiency in slicing up Marist.
Marist had prop and captain Luke Clark tear almost 80 metres for an intercept try.
Bush, COB and Feilding all posted 35 points on Saturday and all six winning teams landed maximum points for scoring four tries or more as did two of the losing teams.
Feilding might be without Manawatu flanker Nick Crosswell for at least another two weeks, but has a squad of 27, and has surged into second place. Brad Carr scored all four ways for a personal haul of 25 points against Linton Army.
Kia Toa and Te Kawau leapt into third and fourth respectively from sixth and seventh.
The only teams without a win and off the pace so far appear to be Freyberg and Oroua.
BUSH 35 VARSITY 22
Four tries apiece suggested an even game, but two tries by Bush centre Zane Gardiner in the second half sewed up the game for the home team.
After a scrappy first half, Bush led 32-17 with a solid forward effort led by lock Brandon Young. Keys to Bush's win was the play of the inside backs, halfback Dean Reiri, Matty James and Frank Bryant.
Running the Varsity ship was skilled first-five Isaac Thompson but there were also strong games from locks Jason Cudby and Scott Lewis.
At Pahiatua:
Bush 35 (Zane Gardiner 2, Matty James, Raymond Allen tries; James 3 pen, 3 con)
Varsity 22 (Paul Tietjens 2, Alex Nixon, Scott Lewis tries; Isaac Thompson con)
HT 15-12.
COLLEGE OB v MARIST
COB, with Aaron Good the conductor from halfback, took Marist apart in the backs using quick recycled ball, changes of angles from Cama, Sam Mitchell and Aaron Cruden.
COB had a superior scrum which put the heat on the Marist No 8 and halfbacks, with Marist captain Koli Sewabu still out injured. COB sheared back through alarming holes among the Marist inside backs, varying its play between high kicks and moving the ball.
Kicking it seems is an anathema to Marist, which ran the ball from everywhere, but most of it was riskily behind the advantage line, having the best back Johnny Leota buried after taking the ball up. Lock Lisiate Fa'aoso was Marist's best, while Mitchell, Jeremy McKenzie, Duncan Walker and Vili Tosi were COB's heroes.
At Ongley Park:
COB 35 (Thomas Trollope, Hamish Gosling, Aaron Good, Sam Mitchell, Junior Tomasi Cama tries; Cama 2 pen, con; Aaron Cruden con)
Marist 17 (Luke Clark, Waisea Qoikata, Simeli Tuiteci tries; Jason Temara con)
HT 18-0.
FEILDING 35 LINTON ARMY 21
Another even forward battle but Yellows came away in the last 20 minutes to deny the soldiers.
The Feilding backs, notably Carr, played well and at 18-14 soon after halftime it was anyone's game. Two tries by the Feilding backs took it to 35-14 with Linton, aided by its bigger pack, scoring its third with five minutes left.
Last year's Feilding High school halfback Aaron Smith starred for the Yellows, as did young prop Shane Schuster in for injured rep prop Sam Moore, Antony Papenfus and Mitchell Crosswell. For Linton, No 8 Matt Oldridge, centre Aaron James and first-five Cody Hall shone.
At Johnston Park:
Feilding 35 (Brad Carr 2, Daniel Smith, Antony Papenfus tries; Carr 2 pen, 3 con, dg)
Linton Army 21 (Aaron James, Cody Hall, Hayden Triggs tries; Hall 2 con, Jimmy Reid con)
HT 15-7.
HSOB 30 FEILDING OB 27
Had FOB landed two conversions from wide out late in the game, it could have stolen this one after HSOB had led 30-17. As it was FOB scored four tries and claimed two bonus points.
HSOB had a strong scrum and relied a lot on its big pack for pick- and-go momentum, profiting from missed FOB tackles. FOB also gave up a try when a pass was inter- cepted. HSOB was strong in the midfied through Frank Lene and Viliame Fakova, and with Ateria Ateria at fullback, two tries coming after halftime.
Best for FOB were captain Exham Wichman, flanker Josh Quigley and wing John Robin.
At Arena Manawatu:
HSOB 30 (Ateria Ateria, John Dodds, Bertus Mulder, Savelio Fonohema tries; Dodds 2 pen, 2 con)
FOB 27 (John Robin 2, Gavin Wairau, Tim Haitana tries; Gordon Thomas 2 con, pen)
HT 19-14.
TE KAWAU 29 OROUA 13
Te Kawau dominated for the first quarter and Oroua never threatened the Real Blokes' line until the last 20 minutes when the men from Kim started recycling good ball and scored five minutes from time.
Te Kawau made unforced errors, bombed three tries, but was too strong in the forwards and in the midfield through Luke Harvey and Sam Leung-Wai. Te Kawau led 29-3 for much of the match. First-five Charlie Beetham had a strong game in his 30 minutes while prop Tim Bailey and flanker Andy Elmslie were Oroua's picks.
At Rongotea:
Te Kawau 29 (Charlie Beetham, Pio Savali, Bryan Matenga, Aaron Eveleigh, Sam Stevens tries; Karl Field 2 con)
Oroua 13 (Daniel Smith try; Walker Jacobs 2 pen, con)
HT 10-3.
KIA TOA 27 FREYBERG 5
Kias forwards dominated in all areas with loose men Ma'ake Tu'ipulotu and Daniel Alofa to the fore. They spent most of the game in Freyberg's half, Freys scoring their try in the last seconds.
Kia Toa ran the ball from everywhere. Turbos Graham Smith and Joggie Viljoen came on in the second half.
Freyberg's defence was leaky at times, but it has a quick backline, Leon Lubbe making strong bursts aided by Joel Burns, Benny Tokokaha and Manifo Malu.
At FMG Stadium:
Kia Toa 27 (Siaosi Anamani, Kurt Baker, Hayden Viles, Graham Smith tries; Tawhiti Walsh con, pen; Smith con)
Freyberg 5 (Joel Burns try)
HT 15-0.
* Fiery Kia Toa flanker Tonga Folau was stood down for two weeks after being ordered off a week ago in the match against COB on FMG Stadium. Folau threw the ball at the referee about 20 minutes from the end of the game.
|
|
Click for Photo's
2006-08-18_28
Date: 18/08/06
Views: 28
Who's Online
We have 4 guests online
|
|
