NPD Tasman Trophy Round 5 Wrap Up
BY JONTY DINE [Nelson App]
Nelson avenged their shock loss to Marist in the NPD Tasman Trophy last weekend, with a hard fought 24-21 win over Waimea Old Boys.
There was plenty of blood spilt, with numerous injuries to both sides illustrating a fiercely physical encounter.
Nelson started the stronger of the two sides, a massive bust by co-captain Willis Scott setting the visitors hot on the attack.
However, Waimea try scoring machine Erenimo Tau picked off a long ball from Willy Havili to run 90 meters and score under the bar.
It was a bruising affair at Jubilee Park, Nelson prop Cole McBride was taken off after only six minutes with a head knock.
Willy opened the scoring for Nelson with a regulation penalty in the 21st minute before centre Chris Kerslake crashed over in the corner to take the lead.
Willy added the extras and Nelson went into the break, up 10-7.
Nelson struck again immediately after oranges, Willis Scott muscling his way over for his second after stringing together several phases.
A relentless period of attack by Waimea lead to their second try as Mitchell Amberger dived over untouched.
Xavier Albert nailed the side-line conversion to bring his side within three while flanker Willis Scott was added to the growing casualty list.
The home side looked to have turned the tide when centre Alex Coventry bust the Nelson midfield defence wide open.
He cross kicked for his winger who dived on the loose ball and popped it up to the ever present Erenimo to score his second under the sticks.
However, Nelson regained momentum and the lead minutes later when halfback Matthew Soper snuck his way over the chalk.
Willy added the extras to stretch it to 24-21 with five to play.
Nelson grinded away in the final few minutes, hanging on to claim a three-point victory and the Noel Barton Trophy.
Nelson co-captain Chris Kerslake says his side showed a lot of heart to leave Jubilee with the victory.
"It’s awesome to get away with the win, we always knew it was going to be tough against Waimea.”
He says the boys dug deep to bounce back from their loss to the green machine.
"It was a good learning curb for us to lose one after a few big wins and it showed us how we have to play to come away with the tough games.
Scorers:
Nelson 24 (Willis Scott, Chris Kerslake, Matthew Soper tries, Willy Havili 3 con, 1 pen) v Waimea Old Boys 21 (Erenimo Tau 2, Mitch Amberger tries, Xavier Albert 3 con)
Meanwhile, Marist captain Tyler Mckinnon-stevenson also enjoyed a win in his 100th appearance for his club.
After trailing 12-3 early on, Marist stormed home against Stoke to take the win 40-15.
Wanderers defeated Kahurangi 28-22.
In the Car Company Nelson Bays semi-finals, Nelson will host Stoke at Neale Park and Waimea Old Boys will take on Marist at Jubilee Park.
BY PETER JONES [Marlborough App]
Renwick rebounded smartly from last week’s loss, beating Moutere 29-12 in a Tasman Trophy rugby showdown at Awarua Park today.
Their bonus-point victory pushes the Green Machine to the top of the local standings and gives them No 1 seeding for next week’s semifinals. It also keeps them well in the hunt for the NPD Tasman Trophy competition, with points being carried forward into the cross-over rounds which are played in the latter part of the season.
Renwick will meet East Coast, their conquerors last week, in the semis after the Coasters were beaten 26-17 by Waitohi in Seddon today.
The other semi will be between the second-placed Tohis and the Magpies.
The match at Awarua Park was an arm wrestle in the early stages, before powerful centre Michael Vaeno crossed after 20 minutes to open the scoring. Halfback Chris Bolton pinched a cheeky blind side try and impressive first five Brian Bennett landed a penalty and a conversion to give the visitors a 15-0 advantage approaching halftime.
Moutere had the final say before the break however, when centre Aki Kaumavae crashed over, halfback Ben Finau adding the conversion.
Vaeno’s second try pushed the visitors further soon after oranges, before replacement winger Owen Ika replied for the Magpies.
At 22-12 the match was still evenly poised but it was Renwick who finished stronger, the introduction of experienced replacements Ti’i Paulo and Todd Nicholas helping to swing the game their way. When No 8 Kurt Schollum bagged their fourth try, which Bennett converted, the day belonged to the Green Machine.
In a physical encounter, Schollum, Sam White, Hayden Marfell and Ty Bampton stood out up front for the visitors, while the English/Irish inside back combination of Bolton and Bennett worked well, wingers Kavekini Taqbu and Regan Marshall ran with purpose and fullback Glen Ballam showed a wide range of skills.
Jack Best, Vernon Fredericks, Mike Curry, Matt McCormick, Finau, first five Max Freydell, who departed with injury in the first spell, and Kaumavae impressed for the home side.
At Seddon, the home side led 14-6 at the halftime break but were unable to deal with a reinvigorated Waitohi outfit in the final 40, the visitors scoring 20 points to clinch their third consecutive win.
Renwick 29 (Michael Vaeno 2, Chris Bolton, Kurt Schollum tries, Brian Bennett 3 con, pen) v Moutere 12 (Aki Kaumavae, Owen Ika tries, Ben Finau con). HT: 15-7.
