Tasman Makos: News

Easy win for Nelson College but too many errors
25-Jun-2010

By WAYNE MARTIN - The Nelson Mail
Nelson College again confirmed their standing among the dominant forces in this year's Press Cup secondary schools rugby championship.

On face value, yesterday's 47-14 romp against an outclassed Shirley Boys' High School side at Nelson College clearly satisfied the prime objective of banking another five championship points and consolidating the team's playoff prospects. However, the eight-try frolic arguably fell short of their own increasing standards as some messy execution contributed to an often patchy display.

There was never any doubt about Nelson's overall superiority. With a dominant scrum and more penetrative running by their backs, the scoreline inevitably extended well beyond Shirley's control.

It could have been more, with frustrating handling lapses, a mounting penalty count and indifferent goal-kicking denying Nelson the chance to post another half-century of points.

It was still a comprehensive win, with right winger Matt O'Sullivan continuing his magnificent strike rate by scoring another three tries to give him 10 from his last three outings.

He has now scored 16 for the season, including two of Nelson's four first-half tries as they headed to the break 25-0 ahead. Fellow winger Vaito Asomua and impressive lock Scott Green added the others.

Substitute halfback Mitchell Drummond, Asomua, O'Sullivan and first five-eighth Fletcher Smith each scored in the second half, with Shirley's two late tries coming from Nelson errors – the first from a charge-down near the line by halfback Tony Christie and the second a 55-metre runaway to winger Kennan Phillips after a breakdown inside Nelson's half.

Nelson's forwards produced another strong effort, in which Green and flanker Baz O'Donnell played significant roles. Green provided quality lineout ball and had an impressive work rate, while O'Donnell's support play and effectiveness at the breakdowns complemented the conspicuous ball-carrying efforts of No8 Willis Scott, flanker Ethan Hamilton and hooker Tyler Morgan-Kearns.

Fullback James Lowe added his usual punch from the back and provided the impetus to several of Nelson's try-scoring movements, despite his frustration with several uncharacteristic handling lapses. O'Sullivan and Asomua also ran strongly.

Nelson's next assignment is Saturday's clash with rivals Waimea College in Richmond.

Nelson College 47 (Matt O'Sullivan 3, Vaito Asomua 2, Scott Green, Mitchell Drummond, Fletcher Smith tries, Smith 2 cons, Mike Wells pen), Shirley Boys' High School 14 (Tony Christie, Kennan Phillips tries, Sam Taylor 2 cons) Ht 25-0.