Tasman Makos: News

Nelson Rugby - Marist need to play for 80 minutes
14-May-2010

Wayne Martin - Nelson Mail
At some point this season, Marist are bound to string 80 minutes of rugby together.

It's an intriguing prospect.

So far this year, Wakatu Marist have staged late recoveries to beat New World Huia and Accessman Stoke and fall just short of Galbraith Group Nelson in round one of the Car Company Nelson Bays division one competition.

But last Saturday, they relinquished a seemingly unbeatable 21-point lead to lose to Marlborough club side Moutere in their Tasman Trophy clash.

Marist have yet to sustain anything like a consistent 80-minute performance, and face Huia again tomorrow in Motueka to try to build on last week's impressive start against Moutere.

Marist were the only Nelson Bays team to lose last Saturday, with Huia enjoying a massive 61-12 win over Harlequins as an important confidence-boosting exercise heading into tomorrow's clash.

Stables Waimea Old Boys' home fixture against Stoke at Jubilee Park promises an interesting midfield clash between Waimea's ex-Makos player Junior Sifa and new Stoke signing Jack Umaga.

Sifa is back home doing some groundwork for a bid for reselection in the United States' World Cup squad.

For the past few Heartland Championship seasons, Umaga has been on loan from Christchurch's Sydenham club to Mid Canterbury, where he's racked up 29 games for the union. He's also been included in the Makos' early-season squad, with he and Sifa anxious to impress the right people as they approach their respective goals.

Stoke's only club championship success this season has been their 16-10 opening-round win over Waimea, although both teams enjoyed comfortable Tasman Trophy wins over their Marlborough opposition.

Waimea has looked like the more settled of the two sides over recent weeks, although Stoke's huge 76-10 Tasman Trophy win over Renwick could provide the necessary tonic to re-energise their season.

Both games kick off at 3pm.

The Nelson College First XV will put their newfound status as Trustbank Trophy holders to the test tomorrow when they play a strong St Andrew's College team in round four of the Press Cup secondary schools competition.

The Trustbank Trophy is a challenge trophy at stake in every match, either home or away, with St Bede's College having held it since 2008 until last week's 22-26 loss in Nelson.

St Andrew's are one of only three unbeaten teams, having recorded wins over Roncalli College (35-9), Burnside High School (58-8) and St Thomas' (39-12).

However, Nelson College loom as their biggest challenge to date, particularly now that Nelson have some silverware to defend, and with the return of flanker Ethan Hamilton and prop Tyler Kearns strengthening their lineup.

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Waimea College will also play their first home game of the season when they meet another unbeaten side, Christ's College, in Richmond.

Waimea enjoyed their first success of the season last Sunday with a 24-3 away victory over Lincoln High School.

They may be hard-pressed to repeat that effort against one of the competition's leading sides but will receive plenty of encouragement from their local supporters and a familiar environment.

Both games kick off at noon.