Varsity 16, Feilding 10
In an old-fashioned tight game, twice the Yellows had it there for the taking, but they blew it with the line open and Varsity said thanks.
Even so, the scholars had the better of the first half, especially in territory, just not on the scoreboard, after they'd been ahead 9-0.
Both defended well, there were few line breaks and Feilding snuck in front with a try and penalty just before halftime.
Varsity got their try 10 minutes after halftime and later had a hot 10-minute spell but couldn't penetrate, with Isaac Thompson putting the ball in behind the Yellows.
In the slippery conditions, Feilding blew their chances and Varsity's scrambling defence held out.
Rob Foreman, Ben Koch, who stole lineout throws, and fullback Casey Stone shone for Varsity, while Shane Schuster, Dan Smith and Gary Simpson went well for Yellows. Brad Carr is still out with a hamstring injury.
At Massey University:
Varsity 16 (Darryl McDavitt try; Isaac Thompson con, 3 pen)
Feilding 10 (Paula Maisiri try; A Smith con, pen)
HT 9-10.
Kia Toa 50, Linton Army 3
The soldiers claimed they were trying their hardest, but again they surrendered meekly to Kia Toa. Linton need to sort this out quickly otherwise they'll look totally out of place in the top six.
The first half was all Kias, up 31-3, Tevita Taufui making breaks and fullback Kurt Baker backing up with grand support play.
Ben Kaufusi, Fraser Stone and Tony Mafi, who was up to fill in for one game from his senior thirds team, led the rampant forwards.
Kias were too strong all round and knocked Linton over in defence.
Linton were in the Kias' half for much of the second spell, but seldom got good ball.
They ran too upright and had few ideas on attack, despite flurries from Adaam Ross and the Woodmass brothers. In the end the scrums were depowered and it was eight tries to zilch.
At Arena Manawatu:
Kia Toa 50 (Kurt Baker 3, Fraser Stone 2, Bertus Mulder, Tevita Taufui, Paul Tietjens tries; Tietjens 5 con)
Linton Army 3 (Adrian Curry pen)
HT 31-3.
Feilding Old Boys-Oroua 41, Freyberg 7 An indication of the Stags' superiority was that Freyberg's try came in the last second of play after they'd trailed 41-0. The Stags had 75 percent of ball and territory in the first half, the midfield of Paora Mullany and Walker Jacobs having their best games of the season as FOB-Oroua scored seven tries to none and led 31-0 at halftime. This week the Stags started strongly, Jacobs relaxed with his pinpoint kicking despite the wet paddock, described as "a sticky cabbage patch". He and halfback Ramon Hirst controlled play, the forwards gave them front-foot ball and the reserves were rolled on. Freys had a big side and had enough ball in the second half, came close to two tries in a rather dour game and didn't give up. At Johnston Park:
FOB-Oroua 41 (Paora Mullany 2, Dan Butters, Ali Cox, Daniel Harper, Kris Callon, Willie Cribb, tries; Walker Jacobs 3 con),
Freyberg 7 (Viliame Fakava try; Willie Luivaie con)
HT 31-0 Bush 23, Dannevirke 5 Dannevirke coach Dave Watson is looking forward to the bye after being ambushed by the neighbours, the rain arriving after 10 minutes to have Dannevirke floundering for the rest of the game. They were missing the best loose forwards, but Bush deserved their first win of the season because their forwards, led by Brandon Young and Joss Tua-Davidson, never let up. "It was huge to be honest." said thrilled coach Wayne Roache, who brought veteran co-coach Kelsey Beales into first-five. "We didn't button off for the whole game. The boys were fired up." Dannevirke won little quality ball, then got into a hole and tried to run it in the rain, after scoring their only try in the opening five minutes. They had a good 20-minute spell, but Bush ruled the rest, especially set play and blew Dannevirke out in the rucks. Dannevirke had few opportunities. At Dannevirke:
Bush 23 (Joss Tua-Davison, Greg Archibald tries; Jarrod Kierins 3 pen, 2 con)
Dannevirke 5 (Mark Walshe try)
HT 3-5. COB vs OBM
Eight Turbos squad members featured in Old Boys-Marist's lineup on Saturday, but College Old Boys refused to be distracted. They might have won only a skeleton amount of lineout ball, but as usual, they made their tackles, took their points and essentially had the game won in the first half. At long last, though, there was hybrid vigour from the Toffs-Doolans' marriage and an 11-5 loss beat the heck out of losing 58-0, at they did first time up. With that lineup and on that performance, OB-Marist should feature in the Hankins Shield semifinals. But be warned, they could forfeit most of their best players to the Turbos at that stage. OB-Marist had the luxury of rolling on Turbos Johnny Leota and Paul Rodgers at halftime. Likewise, out at Massey University, Varsity rolled on Manawatu prop Grant Polson and former Wellington flanker James Oliver for the last 20 minutes. But OB-Marist didn't go wide enough to Leota or Waisea Qoikata. Frankie Bryant made three big breaks at first-five, but while COB might miss the first tackle, they seldom miss the second. COB also lost captain-prop Jeremy McKenzie with a blown calf muscle after nine minutes. But out wide, the quick hands of the backs through Fabian Snaith and Andre Taylor were lethal and it paid off two minutes before halftime when four quick flicks saw them score their try. A penalty soon after halftime took them to 11-0 and with OBM being pinged by Chris Jansen, that meant scoring twice to win. They got a try from a lineout rumble, won a ton of ball through the forwards, but didn't do enough with the ball. COB just kept on shutting them down. Lisiate Fa'aoso and Chris Long were OBM's other champions while Karl Bryson, Matenga Baker, Hamish Gosling and Cyrus Baker also starred for COB. At FMG Stadium:
COB 11 (Jason Harvey try; Andre Taylor 2 pen)
OB-Marist 5 (Peniasi Tokakece try)
HT 8-0. |
