UC Championship Round 1 Update
BY JONTY DINE [Nelson App]
A dominant second half saw Nelson College defend the Moascar Cup for a 16th time today.
The current holders ran in seven tries, including two hat-tricks, to see off a strong challenge from St Andrews College from Christchurch and claim an impressive 25-point victory in the opening round of the UC Championship.
Both schools laid down fierce challenges prior to kick off as a healthy home crowd found its voice.
Nelson skipper Anton Segner made his presence felt early, with a bone rattling hit and pilfer inside the opening minute, setting the tone for an outstanding performance form the German openside flanker.
A Nelson error saw St Andrews open the scoring after a charge down fell fortuitously for winger Tom Rance.
Immediately after the restart, St Andrews openside Jack Stokes committed a careless cleanout leading to a ten-minute stint on the side-line.
The hosts took full advantage of the extra man, Anton crashing over in the right-hand corner after a scintillating break by Vaea Tutuila in midfield.
Once back to a full complement, St Andrews responded after Tom Rance skinned his opposite Ben Faingaanuku and was in for his second.
Ben Ines added the extras to regain the ascendancy at 12-5.
Nelson showed some slick handling skills to set winger Daniel Rogers away and found themselves deep inside St Andrews territory moments before the break.
Half a dozen phases later, number 8 Iaiah Malaula powered over from half a metre out.
Nico Barton converted to see the sides locked up 12-12 at half time.
Nelson came out firing in the second stint, breaking out from their own 22 to take the lead.
Second five Levi Carew ran through half a dozen defenders before Anton sent Isaiah storming down the side-line to score his second.
Nelson’s relentless attack began to tire the St Andrews side, Segner stretching the lead to 10 after scoring from a quick tap.
Frustrations grew for St Andrews as did the penalty count against them, as Nelson’s blockbusting number 8 crossed for his hat-trick after a barnstorming rampage down the left flank.
Anton capped off his inspirational performance with a hat-trick of his own minutes later.
Blinside flanker Fegus Hughes ensured all three loose forwards got on the scoresheet, scoring in the final minute to seal the 37-12 victory.
Anton says they were made to work hard for the win. "The desire to defend the cup here at home got us over the line.”
Anton was awarded the Sky Sports man of the match award for his herculean effort.
"It wasn’t easy, the St Andrews boys were very physical but full credit to our boys, they stood up and did the hard yards.”
He says while they will take the win, the team knows it is a big season ahead. "We didn’t just want to defend the cup but also start our season on the front foot.”
Nelson College 37 (Anton Segner 3, Isaiah Malaula 3 Fergus Huges tries, Nico Barton 2 con) v St Andrews College 12 (Tom Rance 2, Ben Ines con)
St Thomas 44 v Waimea Combined 10
BY PETER GREEN [Marlborough App]
The Marlborough Boy’s College First XV opened their 2018 University of Canterbury championship campaign with a 65-28 victory over a Mid Canterbury Combined side at the MBC front field today.
Although the final score was decisive, and the Falcons rattled up 11 tries, this was somewhat of a Jekyll and Hyde performance from the local side.
They leaked four tries in the first spell and trailed 28-17 at the break as the visitors were given room to move and broke through some ineffective tackles.
However, playing into a solid breeze in the second spell, MBC completely shut their rivals out, scoring eight tries and running away with the match.
Impressive for MBC were flanker Josh Chapman, who scored a double, first five Liam Duncan, midfielder Tristian Taylor, prop Monu Moli, winger Lotu Solomona and fullback Keelan Murrell, who contributed 15 points.
Next week MBC meet St Andrew’s College in Christchurch.
Scorers: MBC 65 (Sky Boskett-Barnes, Josh Chapman 2, Liam Duncan, Aiden Gane, Keelan Murrell, Ben O’Sullivan, Lotu Solomona, Tristian Taylor, Matt Wallace, Monu Moli tries, Murrell 5 con) v Mid Canterbury Combined 28 (Elama Touli, Jahrel Kururangi, Samuel Pearce, Marcus Bishop tries, Brynmor Workman 4 con). HT: 28-17 Mid Canterbury.