Stoke defence stands up to Marist in Car Company Nelson Bays Final
BY JONTY DINE[Nelson App]
Stoke RFC have been crowned Car Company Nelson Bays club rugby champions after defeating Marist 19-10 in a brutally physical final.
On the back some dogged defence, and an outstanding performance from its loose forward trio, Stoke won its first title since 2010 in blustery conditions at Tahunanui Fields.
Jack Grooby had the opportunity to draw first blood for Stoke with a long range shot at goal, but pushed the penalty attempt well wide.
The halfback then went none from two from a similar spot after Sam Moli was pinged for not releasing.
However, Grooby made amends moments later, picking off an intercept from beyond half way before turning it to his captain who went in under the bar.
Marist got on the board in the twentieth minute through a James Hawkey penalty but Stoke responded instantly on the back of a scintillating break by Chamberlain.
Brought down meters from the line, Stoke recycled quickly to put Chris Little away, Grooby nailing the corner conversion for a 14-3 lead.
Marist looked flustered as they tried to get back in the game, forcing passes and committing simple errors with Stoke quick to turn defence into attack.
Prop Blair Prinsep was sensational for Stoke helping the visitors decimate Marist at scrum time while number 8 Hugo Nankivell got through a power of work.
After a sustained period on attack, Marist were still unable to crack the Eagles defence, Connor Karena spilling the ball in a heavy tackle to end a dominant half for Stoke.
The half time pep talk worked wonders for the hosts, Sam Moli finally crossing the chalk after spending more than five minutes camped inside Stoke’s 22.
The Saints Enjoyed the share of possession and territory in the second forty, errors at crucial times costing them points.
They looked certain to score after a huge bust by young fly half Taine Robinson, but once again spilt the pill with the line in sight.
Marist threw everything at Stoke in the final 15, until Anty Burnett produced an outstanding pilfer under his own sticks.
The ever present openside sealed the deal for Stoke soon after, crashing over in the left-hand corner to stretch the lead to nine with less than five to play.
Marist's frustrations grew evident as some niggle crept into the game in the final moments, before referee Mike Lash called time on a thrilling encounter.
Stoke skipper Sam Chamberlain was shattered after the brutal final.
"I’m ecstatic, what a game of footy.”
Sam says his side spoke throughout the week about how defence wins championships.
"Marist really took it to us, but our frontline really stepped up, I am incredibly proud.”
Sam says they drew on the belief garnered from their upset over Nelson in the semi-final.
"I can’t compliment the resistance the boys showed enough, it was immense.”
Losing skipper Tyler McKinnon-Stevenson says he and his team were just "devastated" following the nine-point loss.
"We just made too many mistakes and opportunities slip.”
Scorers: Stoke 19 (Chamberlain, Little, Burnett, tries, Grooby 2 cons)Marist 10 (Moli try, Hawkey 1 con, 1 pen)
(Photo by Shuttersport.co.nz)