The top two sides in the E'stel Tasman Trophy still can't be separated.
By Jonty Dine [Nelson App]
Marist and Waimea Old Boys were both coming into the round eight clash unbeaten and still are after 80 minutes fierce football ended in a 26-all draw on Saturday.
A late Waimea try ensured sides would share the spoils of what was a torrid battle at Tahuna Fields.
The clash came at a cost for Marist as they may have lost star loose forwards Tania Fox-Matamua and Te Puhoe Stephens to season ending injuries.
The green machine scored two stunning first half tries but the injuries eventually took their toll as Waimea crept back in the second.
Marist had a chance to secure the win with a penalty late in the piece, but Taine Robinson pushed it wide to gift Waimea a chance that they took full advantage of.
Kaide Waiting was superb at halfback for the visitors while lock Lemeki Cagialau proved punishing with ball in hand.
Young fullback Robinson played well beyond his years at fullback, nailing two important penalties and setting up a scintillating try for Joe Taylor with a pinpoint inside kick.
Skipper James Hawkey says a draw was probably the right result with both teams showing plenty of heart and fight throughout.
“We played well in the first half and they played well in the second, so I think a draw is a fair result.”
James says Marist will need to put in a complete performance if they are to knock off Waimea when the sides likely meet again in play-offs.
“I think it will come down to a full 80, we only showed 40 today.”
The burly midfielder says the injuries to key players in flanker Stephens and number eight Fox-Matamua could spell bad news for the green machine.
“They looked pretty bad, losing them early on probably killed us a bit but the rest of the boys stood up and held on which was good.”
Magpies struggling, but with heads held high
By Peter Jones [Marlborough App]
Moutere premier rugby coach Laurie McGlone may be wondering where his side’s first win will come from this season, but he’s adamant it is only a matter of time.
The Magpies have gone 0-7 since the beginning of the 2019 E’stel Tasman Trophy season, sitting bottom of the points table, a rare situation for Marlborough’s most successful rugby club.
Against Waitohi on Saturday they put in another gutsy effort, but ultimately failed to come away with anything to show for it. On their home ground, the Magpies turned in a strong first half effort to lead 8-5 at the break, but leaked 19 second half points to go down 24-8.
Coach McGlone said, “the last couple of weeks have been impressive in terms of our progress. Where we do what we train and maintain the ball we are making progress … it showed last week when we scored 33 points against the top team in the league.
“Unfortunately we couldn’t hold them defensively but our defence stepped up this week, it’s just a shame we let those last couple of tries in that blew the score out.”
He’s not one to make excuses, but McGlone has had some injury disruption to deal with this year. Two players expected to be key performers, halfback Ben Finau and utility forward Mike Curry, have missed most of the season so far through injury, Curry requires more diagnosis on a knee injury while Finau is expected back in the “next couple of weeks”.
“For us it’s more about the team though, not the individuals,” said McGlone. “It’s about us gelling together and working for each other. The feeling in the core group is good, they are really fighting hard for each other.
“[The results] are coming … just not quick enough. We are only halfway [through the season] but we need a better second half, that’s for sure.”
The Tohis opened the scoring at Spring Creek, livewire loosie Taine Cragg-Love on hand to finish off a 50m break by centre Taire Tatauri but a penalty to Max Freydell and a well-taken try to centre Myles Grinter saw the home side in front at oranges.
During a scrappy second half, Waitohi dominated field position and made it pay, tries to Dylan Norgate and Dylan Burns giving them breathing space before first five Corey Bovey, literally, crashed over for a fourth try in the final minute, bouncing off the base of the post before grounding the ball.
Locks Burns and Jack Evans worked hard for Waitohi, while midfielder Stefan Roguski, Bovey and fullback Tuli Paea continually posed a threat with ball in hand.
Moutere’s best were hard-working No 8 Matt McCormick, midfielder Aki Kaumavae and fullback Petueli Taufaga.
With their bonus point win, Waitohi continue to show the way for Marlborough-based sides on points table, consolidating third position.
However East Coast, fourth last week, have lost ground, slipping to sixth after going down 30-10 to Central at Lansdowne Park.
The home side led 17-0 at halftime, taking their chances to score twice, while the Coasters had opportunities but were unable to convert.
The second half was also tightly-fought but Central picked up a much-needed win through better ball control and more accurate finishing.
Loosie Braden Stewart was the Blues’ outstanding performer, a continual menace at the breakdown and strong with the ball in hand. First five Mitch Smith had his kicking boots on, booting three penalties and converting all three tries to ensure his side got maximum benefit for their endeavours. The exciting Timoci Tavatavanawai wore the 15 jersey and, as usual, was a ball of energy, while left wing Simi Volavola continued his strong season.
For East Coast, halfback Nemia Ranuku, who must be on the Tasman Mako selectors’ radar, had a top game, along with No 8 Shohei Nonaka.
Scores
Waitohi 24 (Taine Cragg-Love, Dylan Norgate, Dylan Burns, Corey Bovey tries, Bovey 2 con) Moutere 8 (Myles Grinter try, Max Freydell pen). HT 8-5 Moutere.
Central 30 (Peter Vakaloa, Braden Stewart, Jake Cresswell tries, Mitch Smith 3 con, 3 pen) East Coast 10 (Heath Forsyth, Paul Hickman tries). HT: 17-0
Results:
Marist 26 drew with Waimea 26
Wanderers 32 def Stoke 30
Nelson 26 def Kahurangi 22
Waitohi 24 Moutere 8
Central 30 def East Coast 10