Tasman Makos: News

Nelson survive late Marist assault to win
14-Jun-2010

Nelson Mail - WAYNE MARTIN
Nelson will take the home ground advantage into next weekend's Car Company Nelson Bays division one rugby playoffs after holding out a late Marist assault at Tahunanui on Saturday.

Galbraith Group Nelson beat Wakatu Marist 12-7 after a scoreless first half to finish top of the regular season points table, and will now face Accessman Stoke at Neale Park in next week's feature playoff.

Nelson were defending grimly at the finish of Saturday's contest as Marist threw everything into a late victory bid. Nelson had to do it with only 14 men for the final four minutes after Nelson hooker Ioane Tuilagi was yellow-carded by referee Paul Gurr for a high tackle.

But Nelson's defence stood firm to deny Marist a win, with Nelson eventually finishing ahead two tries to one.

Nelson also required some precise first half defence as Marist dominated much of the early possession with a useful breeze at their backs. Marist never capitalised on that advantage as aggressive Nelson defence and Marist first five-eighth George Westenra's faulty radar conspired to keep the game deadlocked at the break.

Westenra missed all three first half penalty attempts, with Nelson's best opportunity for points coming a minute before the break when the forwards drove across the line, Gurr instead signalling a five-metre scrum.

Nelson eventually grabbed the lead 11 minutes after the restart when halfback Steve Alfeld attacked blind from a scrum near halfway, left winger Mitchell Scott and Alfeld continuing the movement before flanker Shane Christie received the final pass near the line.

First five-eighth James Marshall added Nelson's second try eight minutes later, also receiving an inside pass from his winger Loui Harvey after he'd latched on to a well-weighted grubber kick from midfielder Siu Vitaoa.

Trailing 12-0, Marist signalled their fightback when fullback Afeleki Pelenise used his ample pace and power to cross wide out with about 18 minutes remaining, Westenra ironically landing his toughest kick of the day from near the sideline.

It produced a tense finish as Marist applied the pressure over the dying stages, Nelson just holding on to leave Marist with another difficult assignment against Stables Waimea Old Boys at Jubilee Park next Saturday.

Lock James Foster delivered some quality lineout ball for Nelson, with No8 Dan Hyatt also snaring a key defensive lineout steal late in the match as Marist began to apply some genuine pressure.

Nelson's scrum also held up well against a strong Marist unit in which No8 Joe Yalayala again impressed with his aggressive running.

Huia 12 WOB 7

Huia felt the graunch of emotions at Sports Park Motueka after their desperate win over Waimea left them just one point short of making the playoffs.

New World Huia's season is now over, despite their 12-7 win in appalling conditions, after Marist's losing bonus point against Nelson was enough to keep Marist in the playoff mix.

Despite the loss, Waimea held on to third place and home ground advantage for next week's sudden death playoff against Marist.

Huia scored all their points in the first half as their forwards once again adapted more readily to the difficult conditions.

And it was through the grinding efforts of their forwards that first prop Vai Aukafolau, and later No8 Osai Feao, scored to highlight the home team's increasing ascendancy.

Both efforts showed patience and clever execution in the conditions as Huia took a well-deserved 12-0 lead into the break.

Waimea returned a much more determined unit after the restart as their forwards gradually began to claw back the initiative. The introduction of Tasman Makos player Glenn Gregory at No8 proved crucial to Waimea's revival as his experience and control began to provide some impetus to a previously pressured Waimea pack.

Lock and captain Ben Coman continued his impressive form this season with a strong second half effort as Waimea's improved field position had Huia struggling for counters.

Prop Tim Hikuroa also showed plenty of heart as a substitute, with flanker Mason Thelin also impressing in his first start of the season.

Waimea eventually cashed in when halfback Kaide Whiting scored, also adding his own conversion, to leave them within a converted try of victory.

Waimea figured they'd achieved that right on fulltime when winger Shane Laurence appeared to score the equalising try, referee Stefan James instead ruling an obstruction infringement in the buildup.

Waimea fullback James Kamana reacted verbally to the decision, first attracting a yellow card and then a red.

Aukafolau, James Mei and Feao were major contributors to Huia's impressive first half forward effort with flankers Tevita Havea and Hana Corbett-Burrows also prominent.