Tasman Makos: News

Nelson Club Rugby Update - Stoke shut down Nelson
24-May-2010

Nelson Mail - WAYNE MARTIN
It was almost the perfect result.

A perfect result would have seen Accessman Stoke score four tries and add another bonus point to their Car Company Nelson Bays division one rugby championship tally, instead of scoring three tries to Galbraith Group Nelson's two in their 31-18 win at Greenmeadows on Saturday.

The win certainly appeared more decisive than that, and was arguably Stoke's most satisfying effort of the season as they constantly shut down Nelson's time and space and never allowed Nelson's dangerous backline to mount anything like a genuine threat.

A try to Nelson centre Robbie Malneek right on fulltime helped to minimise some of the damage, although it was Stoke who called the shots for much of the contest, showing better control, more unity up front and certainly more intensity against a subdued Nelson side.

The result also re-emphasised the unpredictablility of this year's competition, with Nelson still managing to retain their one-point competition lead after Wakatu Marist beat Stables Waimea Old Boys at Garin College.

Midfielder Sione Holani contributed two of Stoke's three tries, using his strength to bust tackles near Nelson's line to start and end the half.

His new partner, former Mid Canterbury player Jack Umaga, added the other late in the half, with all of Stoke's second-half points coming from the boot of first five-eighth Kris McNichol and stand-in kicker Shaun Begg.

Halfback Steve Alfeld scored Nelson's first-half try, running strongly from an attacking scrum to provide Nelson with some early hope at 10-7. But tries to Umaga and Holani, right on halftime, again stretched Stoke's lead, to a commanding 22-10 at the break.

Stoke have wasted handy leads before this season. Not on Saturday, though, as their forwards, with loosies Tevita Koloamatangi and Lofi Ula prominent throughout, emphasised the aggressive and full-on approach.

A couple of well-controlled second-half mauls epitomised Stoke's overall dominance.

Defensively, Stoke were alert to everything Nelson tried to conjure up as they looked to set their usually lethal backline alight. But they were constantly forced sideways as Stoke's tacklers consistently hit their mark. Nelson flanker Shane Christie still produced an outstanding effort, with Alfeld also a strong contributor to the close-quarter action.

Marist 24 WOB 8

Marist christened their new Garin College venue with a satisfying three-try victory over Waimea, also reversing the outcome of their previous contest earlier in the season.

Marist's forwards capitalised on a solid platform, maintaining their continuity and aggression as No8 Joe Yalayala, props Paa Thompson and Laman Davies and new lock Daniel Squire made significant contributions.

Lock Anthony Elisala performed consistently, with his former Auckland Marist teammate and flanker Dennis Tomi another to impress, in his first outing for the club.

Winger Marcos Nariaria opened Marist's scoring early in the piece with the first of their three tries, halfback Andy Stephens adding the second, and converting both, as Marist took a 14-5 advantage into the break.

Marist dominated the second-half scoring, with a converted try to substitute winger Nick Bright and a penalty success to Stephens, leaving too much work for Waimea to do in their vain attempts to get back into the contest.

Waimea maintained a competitive edge at the breakdowns but struggled for the second successive week in the scrums. Ben Coman, Lee Nelmes, Brad Parkes and Brett McKenzie kept Waimea in the hunt in the scramble for the ball on the ground.

Otherwise, Marist were left to call the shots, with first five-eighth George Westenra showing some skilful kicking touches to help keep the Marist forwards grinding ahead.

By comparison, Waimea's kicking game was astray, enabling Marist to constantly relieve pressure in an area where they had been under fire in recent weeks.

However, Waimea fullback James Kamana and left winger Cam Salton made some strong ball returns as two players to impress in Waimea's backline.

Hooker Todd Bavin scored Waimea's first-half try, and the visitors were able to cut the deficit further with a penalty to Billy Guyton soon after the restart.

That was as close as they got, with Stephens' sole penalty success sparking a further period of Marist ascendancy, which they never relinquished.