Marlborough Match coverage by PETER JONES [Marlborough App]
Waitohi and Central became the first Marlborough teams to claim wins in this season’s Tasman Trophy division one competition when they capitalized on sizeable first half advantages to grab bonus point victories.
Waitohi downed Renwick 43-26 at Picton’s sun-swept Endeavour Park today, racing to a decisive 33-7 halftime lead, then holding on as the Green Machine mounted a gutsy comeback.
At Awarua Park, home side Moutere were beaten 41-19 by Central, who held a 24-0 advantage at the break.
East Coast had a bye today.
Waitohi 43 – Renwick 26
While the Picton match wasn’t a classic “game of two halves” it tended that way.
Waitohi went on the attack from the outset, their forwards making big yards with strong carries and the home town backline capitalizing with efficient ball movement. They were up 21-0 after 12 minutes, the unerring boot of first five Corey Bovey, who amassed 18 points for the day, converting tries to hooker Taimi Fangatua, midfielder Daniel Samita and prop Losi Malimali as the Renwick defence paid the price for hanging back on the tackle line.
Two more tries gave the home side a 33-0 lead closing in on the break, before Renwick began a comeback of sorts, finally getting on the board through centre Erenavula Orisi.
The Green Machine’s hopes of an early second half revival was set back by a sixth Waitohi try just minutes after halftime, but the visitors showed they are made of stern stuff by responding with three more tries of their own, earning a deserved bonus point. At one stage they had closed the gap to two converted tries, before Bovey put things to bed with a late penalty.
The composed first five was impressive throughout for Waitohi, along with halfback Saia Tokai, fullback Tuli Paea and dangerous midfielders Daniel Samita and Tiare Tairua.
Up front the home side’s effort was led by loosie Taine Cragg-Love, regular halfback Jimmy Giles, who put in a whole-hearted stint at blind side flanker, hooker Taimi Fangatua, prop Manu Mataele and lightweight locks Enoka Love and Jack Evans.
Renwick’s best were hard to find in the first half, as the Waitohi wave swept over them, but with parity of possession and the tide of penalties swinging their way, several players shone. Midfielders Falaula Fotu Moala and Erenavula Orisi proved elusive when given the ball at pace, prop Quinn Harrison-Jones, brothers Josh and Jaydn Holdaway and halfback Jayden Lister tackled their hearts out, then carried well in the second spell.
Scorers:
Waitohi 43 (Taimi Fangatua, Daniel Samita, Losi Malimali, Saia Tokai, Corey Bovey, Tiare Tairua tries, Bovey pen, 5 con) v Renwick 26 (Erenavula Orisi, Sione Lonitenisi, Owen Soper, Falaula Fotu Moala tries, Liam Townsend 3 con). HT 33-7.
Central 41 (Jesse MacDonald, Peter Vakaloa, Vailua Kaloni 2, Josh Chapman, Simi Volavola, Robbie Malneek tries, Glen Smith 3 con) v Moutere 19 (Ben Finau, Tangimausia Papani, Aki Kaumavae tries, Josh Reece 2 con) HT 24-0.
Nelson Match coverage by JONTY DINE [Nelson App]
Relentless defence has seen Wanderers score a dramatic victory over Nelson in the Tasman Trophy on Saturday.
Despite two yellow cards, a serious neck injury, and spending the final minutes camped their own line, a tenacious Wanderers side held on for a gusty 26-22 win at Trafalgar Park.
Chris Hala'ufia scored the first for Wanderers before winger Naki Saumaki dotted down in the corner, making it two for the visitors with less than 20 minutes gone.
It was all Wanderers early on until a yellow card for a no arms tackle saw centre Tone Vaka given a ten-minute spell on the side-line.
First five Justin Barr was the second Wanderer sent to the bin after he failed to control an intercept attempt.
The host's execution was poor but hooker Pelefoti Siaki eventually rumbled over for Nelson to ensure they had some points on the board before the break.
The Wanderers’ defence was brutal and even Crusader Ethan Blackadder found himself losing metres in some bruising hits.
However, the weight of possession for Nelson eventually saw the visitors crack with prop Kershawl Sykes-Martin powering his way over the chalk to reduce the deficit to 12.
The third yellow of the game was then issued to prop Inoke Latu for not wearing a mouthguard.
However, Wanderers were unable to take advantage with Nelson skipper Chris Kerslake driving over for his team’s third, bringing the hosts back within a try.
It proved a double blow for Wanderers. The game was significantly delayed for a serious neck injury as prop Curtis Bandy lay prone for 20 minutes until the ambulance arrived.
Once the game was back underway, Nelson piled on the pressure and a Mitchell Barry penalty reduced the margin to four.
The home side probed desperately in a frantic final five, but Wanderers refused to relent and tackled themselves into the turf for a famous win.
Skipper Fletcher Matthews says they had a point to prove against the defending champs.
"We really took it to them in that first half, a few cards put us behind the 8-ball but we the boys did a really good job to hold on."
Scorers:
Wanderers 26 (Hala'ufia, Saumaki tries, Barr 2 cons, 2 pens, Poy 2 pens) v Nelson 22 (Siaki,Sykes-Martin, Kerslake, tries, Barry 2 cons, 1 pen)
In the earlier match at Trafalgar's double header, a last minute try for Waimea ensured they kept their three-year winning streak against Stoke alive with a 27-25 win. In Motueka, Marist were too strong for Kahurangi, hammering the hosts 57-0. Over the hill, Waitohi and Central enjoyed big wins over Renwick and Moutere respectively.
Results:
Wanderers 26 def Nelson 22
Waimea Old Boys 27 def Stoke 25
Marist 57 def Kahurangi 0
Waitohi 43 def Renwick 26
Central 41 def Moutere 19