NPD Tasman Trophy Round 2 wrap up:
Motorworld Marlborough Div 1
BY
PETER JONES [Marlborough App]
Moutere
and Renwick continued their winning start to the Tasman division one club rugby
season today.
Although
both frontrunners backed up their victorious first round efforts with wins,
they were pushed all the way by tough opponents.
Moutere
claimed a 14-12 victory at Awarua Park over East Coast, who had a first round
bye, while Renwick overcame a fast-finishing Central 31-28 at Lansdowne Park.
Both
games were all locked up at halftime. The Magpies scored first at Awarua,
through standout loosie Vernon Fredericks, Max Freydell adding the conversion,
but the Coasters were back on level terms at halftime thanks to a five-pointer
from halfback Michael Ryan, converted by Heath Forsyth.
Although
they battled into a stiff breeze in the second 40, the home side put together
the next score, loose forward Mike Curry bursting over after a quick tap by
halfback Ben Finau. Freydell converted.
East
Coast replied soon after, through fullback Sam Westenra, but Forsyth’s
conversion sailed wide, as did a last-minute penalty attempt that would have
reversed the final result.
In
a scrappy encounter that seldom went past six phases, midfielder Aki Kaumavae
and the lively Owen Ika stood out in the backs for Moutere, while lock Matt
McCormick, Luke Scott and Curry were prominent up front.
The
Coasters’ best were No 8 Jack Roberton, skipper Seymour Lambert, hooker/loose
forward Billy Collins, Freydell and Westenra.
Meanwhile,
on Lansdowne Park No 6, Renwick and Central were engaged in a real arm wrestle.
At the final whistle, both sides had scored four converted tries, a second half
penalty to Kurt Schollum providing the final difference on the scoreboard.
Renwick
led 14-0 early, through tries to midfielder Michael Vaeno and halfback Brian
Bennett, who both picked up a brace of touchdowns, before Central levelled up
with tries to prop Chris Goodger and fullback Robbie Malneek, who also bagged a
double.
Both
sides traded converted tries in the second spell, before Renwick pushed out to
a 31-21 lead. A late converted touchdown to Malneek earned the Blues a bonus
point but they came up short of a much-needed win.
Best
of the Green Machine were tryscorers Vaeno Bennett, plus hard-working forwards
Josh Holdaway and replacement Matt Paterson.
Central
rookies Peter Vakaloa at prop and hooker Sione Lonitonesi stood out for the
home side.
Scorers:
Moutere
14 (Vernon Fredericks, Mike Curry tries, Max Freydell 2 con) East Coast
(Michael Ryan, Sam Westenra tries, Heath Forsyth con) HT: 7-7.
Renwick
31 (Michael Vaeno 2, Brian Bennett 2 tries, Bennett con, Kurt Schollum 3 con,
pen) Central 28 (Robbie Malneek 2, Dusty Foley, Chris Goodger tries, Mitch
Smith 4 con). HT: 14-14.
The Car Company Nelson Bays Div 1
BY JONTY DINE [Nelson App]
Nelson have established themselves as early front-runners in the NPD Tasman Trophy after a 40-20 win over Stoke at Greenmeadows today.
Stoke were making their first appearance at their home ground after spending last season at Nayland College.
It wasn’t a happy homecoming however as Nelson ran in six tries to take maximum points from their opening two encounters.
Stoke were without captain and key attacking weapon Sam Chamberlain while Nelson had lost Ethan Blackadder to Crusader duties.
The table toppers started strongly, scoring twice in the right-hand corner through Willy Havili’s long balls.
Both sides played high-octane running rugby in the early exchanges but Stoke made too many unforced errors quashing any hopes of a comeback.
An intercept to winger Navarre Harbour in the 70th minute while the hosts were hot on attack was the final nail in Stoke’s coffin.
Willy looked all class for Nelson with his sharp distribution and accurate kicking bagging 20 points for the match, while Epa Aliol was a constant threat out wide.
Nelson claim the Ramsey/Cowman Cup and the Robbie Dawson Cup for their victory today and remain at the top of the Tasman Trophy table.
Nelson coach Kade Heke says it has been the perfect start to the season.
"The boys are putting it all out there at the moment and I take my hat off to them.”
Kade says he was most impressed by the tenacity his team showed.
"They just kept grinding it out.”
In other Tasman trophy results Marist defeated Wanderers 40-14, Renwick beat Central 31-28 half back Brian Bennett and Michael Vaeno both dotting down twice for Renwick.
At Cooks Reserve, Waimea Old Boys beat Kahurangi 37-10.
