Tasman Makos: News

Nelson secures Seddon Shield
13-Jul-2008

By ELISE VOLLWEILER - Nelson

Nelson made a clean sweep of the Seddon Shield primary schools rugby tournament after triumphing over defending champion Golden Bay-Motueka, 34-5, yesterday morning.

The week-long under-52kg tournament, played this year at SportsPark Motueka, came down to a decider between the two teams who had both won their three preceding games against Marlborough, Buller and the West Coast.

After four days of near-perfect playing conditions, yesterday's intermittent rainfall and surface flooding meant both teams had to alter their game plans.

Of the two sides, it was Nelson's players who better proved their adaptability.

Their ball-handling and control, as well as their superior kicking game, enabled them to score three unanswered tries in the first half.

Golden Bay-Motueka got some revenge with a try of its own early in the second half.

However, a tough game against Marlborough the previous day took its toll on the team, and Nelson, which was better rested and playing more consistently, ran away with the match. It was the 21st time Nelson had won the shield in the tournament's 74-year history.

Nelson Bays regional development officer Chris Roden said Nelson dominated what was expected to be a close deciding match. He thought Golden Bay-Motueka had suffered from the absence of two of its key players, flankers Levi McPherson and Jack Gauld, both of whom were sidelined with injuries.

Roden said the tournament had been a success overall, making particular mention of the fantastic weather of the first four days. He complimented Goodsports Motueka chairman and Golden Bay-Motueka stalwart George Sturgeon for the work he put into organising and hosting the tournament.

NELSON 34: Quade Dearman (2), Jacob Whitaker, Joel Ross, Mitchell Hunt and Finn Hart-Strawbridge tries; Whitaker 2 conversions. GOLDEN BAY-MOTUEKA 5: Brendan Goodman try.