Marist to meet Waimea OB in Tasman Trophy final
Winger Jamie Spowart was in fine form as his side whalloped Wanderers at Trafalgar Park today. Photo: Evan Barnes/Shuttersport
By Jonty Dine [Marlborough App]
The two top sides this season will contest the Tasman Trophy after booking spots in next week’s final with dominant performances today.
Marist’s semi-final clash with Wanderers yielded more than 100 points as a rampant green machine ran riot at Trafalgar Park.
After dropping its only game this season to Renwick last week, Marist responded in ruthless fashion as it ran in 11 tries to send an ominous warning to Waimea Old Boys.
The top qualifiers also booked its berth in the big dance with a 37-22 win over Waitohi at Jubilee.
Marist didn't take long to get on the board as Lote Saulekaleka exploded onto a rogue kick, beat three defenders and linked up with speedster Jamie Spowart for the opening try.
Saulekaleka set up the second with another sithing run before Sam Briggs burst through the line to give Marist all the early momentum.
The fullback’s sensational start continued as he crashed over himself moments later for a 17-0 lead with just 15 gone.
A fourth soon followed after Marist decimated Wanderers’ scrum and Briggs danced through the defence to bag a brace with less than a quarter of the game gone.
The carnage continued as Spowart made another scintillating break before linking up with halfback Cleve Barrell who went in for Marist’s fifth.
Wanderers had no answers for the onslaught and Barrell burrowed over for his second as the visitors began falling off numerous tackles.
Skipper James Hawkey then got in on the action before Wanderers did give its supporters something to cheer about as Fletcher Matthews scurried down the sideline to put his side on the board before the break.
Marist would respond immediately however through Sam Moli who scored the eighth first half try and brought up the half century to cap a completely dominant forty minutes for Marist.
The issues were compounded for Wanderers as one of its key attacking weapons in centre Tone Vaka was sent to the bin for a brutal looking spare tackle.
The Green Machine wouldn’t take long to exploit the one-man advantage as lock Hopo Taufa and Hawkey blew the score-line out further.
Naki Saumaki pulled one back for Wanderers with some dazzling footwork as the injury toll mounted for both teams.
Wanderers' late surge continued, awarded a penalty try before Ducati Morrell-Hopa, Nino Peniamina and Dan Mclauchlan all scored consolation tries as defence took a back seat in the last ten.
Teu Sami restored order with another one for Marist as the high scoring affair finally ended at 71-34.
Marist will meet Waimea Old Boys in the final at Trafalgar Park next Saturday afternoon.
Marist 71 (Briggs 2, Barrell 2, Hawkey 2, Moli, Spowart, Saulekaleka, Taufa, Sami tries, Hawkey 8 cons) v Wanderers 34 (Matthews, Saumaki, Hopa, Peniamina, penalty try, Mclauchlan, Matthews one con)
Waimea Old Boys 37 def Waitohi 22
Waitohi show fortitude in semi loss to Waimea OB
by Peter Jones [Marlborough App]
Top qualifier Waimea Old Boys downed Marlborough club Waitohi 37-22, while Marist, who qualified second, accounted for Wanderers 71-34 at Trafalgar Park.
Waitohi played into a stiff breeze at Jubilee Park and were relatively happy to hold the home side to a 20-3 halftime advantage. WOB led 13-3 for most of the first 40 before bagging a seven-pointed just before the break.
Turning with the wind at their backs the Tohis were confident of getting back into the game, but a Waimea try soon after the break saw them slip to 27-3 behind.
However, the Picton-based crew showed the fortitude that got them to the semis, closing the gap to 27-15 before Waimea pulled away again. A late Waitohi try narrowed the final scoreline but the damage had been done.
Player/coach Jimmy Giles said that, while he was disappointed to lose, he was “proud as punch” of his charges.
“We gutsed it out pretty well in the first half, into the wind, but whenever we made a mistake they would kick us back into our own territory. Then they took their opportunities well.
“At halftime we were still confident of closing the gap but they scored next. We worked hard to get back into it, getting within reach, but they scored again to close it out.
“Overall, Waimea played pretty well but so did we. We didn’t do a lot wrong. We were just starved of the ball at times. We could have folded at 27-3 down but we showed plenty of guts to fight back.”
Giles mentioned backs Saia Tokai, Corey Bovey, Stefan Roguski and Tuli Paea as having good games, along with forwards Rocky Leofo, Taine Cragg-Love, plus front rowers Manu Mataele, Taimi Fangatua and Losi Malimali.