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Te Kawau tip over Varsity |
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Written by Site Admin
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Wednesday, 09 July 2008 |
Te Kawau emerged from below the weather radar to be a Hankins Shield semifinal contender after upending Varsity at Massey University on Saturday.
As the deep freeze hit, the Real Blokes thawed out quickly to uplift the new Wallace Challenge Cup from Varsity, which had won it by beating College Old Boys on May 17.
Te Kawau had the wood on the students for the whole game and four tries to two was decisive. It pleased coach Duncan Rowe so much he didn't feel the cold when feeding out to his stock yesterday.
"It was certainly the game we wanted," the former Manawatu flanker said. "The conditions suited us. Our forward pack is going very well and we've got good cover [for the two Turbos players]. We're just quietly ticking along."
It was an important win for the green and blacks, who had lost, 21-13, at home to Varsity in the first round.
On a wet but clean ground, all four Te Kawau tries came through its forwards, who mauled to good effect with former Manawatu hooker Simon Easton, lock Aaron Arnott, flanker Neil Florence and halfback Steve Treleaven to the fore.
Varsity, minus its four Turbos, struggled up front with the slippery ball and found it hard defending the mauls close to the line. First-five Isaac Thompson had a sound game, but Varsity's counter-attacks off Te Kawau kicks saw a lot of spilled ball.
At Massey University:
Te Kawau 26 (Simon Easton 2, Bryan Matenga, Taukiri Manawatu, tries: C Field 3 con)
Varsity 15 (Steve Barron, Mitchell Campbell, tries; Isaac Thompson pen, con) HT 14-5. |
