Tasman Makos: News

Marlborough Club Rugby Update - Waitohi proving to be hard to beat
24-May-2010

Marlborough Express - JOHN ALEXANDER

"Catch us if you can".
That's the message after Waitohi continued their outstanding form in the Wadsco Marlborough premier club rugby competition at Picton on Saturday with a 44-13 demolition of Central.

Waitohi's exhilarating brand of attacking rugby proved too much for the Blues and the result put the Tohis seven points clear at the top of the points table with Central and Moutere equal second.

Moutere dispatched Renwick at Renwick 23-5 without too much fuss while on Friday night at Lansdowne Park, Awatere won a nail-biting contest over Harlequins by 25-22.

With three places virtually sealed for the semifinal play-offs, the battle is on for the fourth spot between Renwick, Harlequins and Awatere.

Waitohi 44 Central 13

For 30 minutes of this game Central kept pace with Waitohi as both teams tested out each other in a rugged encounter, befitting a top of the table clash.

As Waitohi coach Murray Burgess said afterwards, both teams were a little hesitant in the first 40 minutes but after half-time, Waitohi broke the shackles, producing more of the scintillating counter-attacking rugby they've treated their home fans to this season.

The scores were level 3-3 until the 30th minute when after a well-constructed back move Central were penalised. Halfback James Giles tapped quickly and lock Troy Looms was on hand to score.

Five minutes later, first-five Daniel Hawkins featured twice in another breathtaking move and he hurdled the last defender to score and convert from wide out for a 15-3 lead.

Central's Rawiri Tamati kicked a penalty goal on half-time, after a dropped pass had earlier robbed them of a certain try, but that's as close as the visitors got.

No8 Manu Mataele had a quiet first half but burst into action to score early in the second half, with good lead-up work by the forwards the key.

Replacement forward William Karena scored from the kick-off. Central failed to secure the ball, lock Rory Wright broke free, Karena up in support following a quick recycle.

A wild pass behind their own line gifted the quick thinking Giles an easy try after his rival halfback Nick Corkin had scored from a quickly-taken tap penalty.

Waitohi finished the match in style, a sweeping move from inside their own half ending with replacement back Hepe Beech scoring.

Waitohi simply had too much firepower for the Blues and while the forwards weren't dominant, they did provide a solid enough platform to operate from. Prop Joe Va'atuitui, Looms, Wright and skipper Les Ivamy were standouts.

In the backs, Giles, Hawkins, Kenneth Karena and Scott Ivamy all had fine games.

Ad Feedback For Central, lock Bruce Bromwich toiled aggressively. Veteran prop John Pale churned out a high work rate and prop Al Sile provided some go-forward with ball in hand and number eight Reyne Volavola defended stoutly.

Corkin and mid-fielder Onolevu Temo never stopped trying to create in the backs.

Awatere 25 Harlequins 22

In the finish, goal-kicking decided what turned out to be an exciting clash on the number three ground at Lansdowne Park on Friday night.

Awatere's forwards were outstanding in the first half and 10 minutes into the second half they looked home and hosed at 22-5 up and dominating.

However, a key positional change turned the match, George Millar moving in from centre to first-five with immediate effect, his first touch sending winger Sione Lenga over for a fine try. Millar also scored the opening try of the match, bursting through from a set play 40 metres out, pace the key ingredient.

Awatere's forwards took control over the middle stages.

Paul Murphy kicked a penalty then scored a brilliant solo try, cutting through on the angle under the posts and converting.

No8 Tom Loe increased Awatere's lead with a well constructed push-over scrum try, Murphy converting. Halfback Hamish Murray scored a well constructed Awatere try, inter-passing with prop Kurt Lindsay.

Following Lenga's second try for Harlequins, fullback Andrew Miller scored another and near full-time halfback Daniel MacDonald got his team two bonus points, darting over from a tap penalty.

Harlequins had their chances, notably goal-kicking ones, but Gavin Morrison and later in the second half, Joe Wheeler, were unable to kick more than one goal between them from eight attempts.

For Awatere, Lindsay, hooker Paul Hickman and number eight Loe played well. Murray's polish at halfback and his kicking game in conjunction with first-five Glenn Blackmore were crucial factors in Awatere's win.

Wheeler gave it everything for Harlequins up front and hooker Simon Muir had a strong game. Millar was the star turn in the backs and replacement centre Willie Tau'alupe made a couple of incisive breaks.

Moutere 23 Renwick 5

Moutere coach Dave McCormick was happy with his team's effort but disappointed they couldn't score a bonus point fourth try against a Renwick team that played in fits and starts.

Hooker Vernon Fredericks had another top game, making several powerhouse runs and scoring two fine tries, one in each half.

First-five Greg Blick was another influential figure, scoring a brilliant solo try, kicking the goals that counted and generally guiding his team around the park efficiently. Fullback Taurean George kicked well from defence.

James Pigou also had an outstanding all-round game in the Moutere pack and in tandem with skipper Stu Campbell, Wayne Caldwell and Fredericks, made sure Renwick never threatened to win the match.

Renwick assistant coach Robert Harrison-Jones felt his team played too much as individuals and paid the price. Hooker Matt Preece scored their only try, looming up in support at a short lineout move.

Renwick applied periods of pressure but errors and turnovers were costly and Moutere's kicking game generally had them scrambling in defence.

Flanker Hayden Marfell, lock and captain Hamish Greenwood and Ryan McQuillan were the pick of the Renwick forwards and in the backs, Dave Fotu at first-five and fullback and Kyle Marfell at first and second-five never stopped trying to invent something.

The result leaves Renwick still in fourth place, three ahead of Harlequins but 12 adrift of Moutere and Central.

CLUB RUGBY WRAP

Results: Waitohi 44 (Daniel Hawkins, William Karena, James Giles, Manu Mataele, Troy Looms, Hepe Beech tries, Hawkins 4 con, 2 pen) Central 13 (Nick Corkin try, Rawiri Tamati con, 2 pen). Half-time: Waitohi 15-6 Moutere 23 (Vernon Fredericks 2, Greg Blick tries, Blick con, 2 pen) Renwick 5 (Matt Preece try). Half-time: Moutere 15-0 Awatere 25 (Tom Loe, Hamish Murray, Paul Murphy tries, Murphy 2 con, pen, David Pope pen) Harlequins 22 (George Millar, Andrew Miller, Sione Lenga, Daniel MacDonald tries, Joe Wheeler con). Half-time: 17-5 Awatere