Nelson College hold on Moascar Cup finally ends
BY JONTY DINE [Nelson App]
After two years and 15 defences, the Nelson College First XV has lost the Moascar Cup.
One of the longest reigns in modern history came to an end today as a clinical Christchurch Boys side defeated the holders 22-12.
Nelson were out-muscled up front and out-gunned out wide by the country’s second biggest All Black factory and defending UC champions.
Nelson manager Peter Grigg says they were beaten by a better side today.
"I guess there is only one certainty when you win trophies like that, you’re going to lose it someday.”
Skipper Anton Segner was visibly dejected following the loss.
"Very disappointing but credit to Christchurch they were they better team and simply outplayed us.”
Anton says the ball handling skills of the Christchurch backs blew his side off the park.
"We always knew that was going to be their strength and we just weren’t able to match it with them.”
The sides both laid down spine-tingling challenges prior to kick off as the Nelson Supporters Club was in full voice.
Photo: Evan Barnes/Shuttersport NZ.
The visitors opened the scoring through fullback Max Hughes after a slick blindside move in just the tenth minute.
Nelson were dominated at the break down, blown off their own ball leading to a second for Christchurch.
The challenges began to string some beautiful offloads together running riot through the Nelson defence.
Segner looked to have opened Nelson’s account late in the first, only to be called back for a forward pass as unforced errors were costing the holders dearly.
Nelson struggled to get out of their own half in the second as Ollie Lewis stretched the lead to 15 with a regulation penalty.
Conor Rhind finally cracked Christchurch's resolute defence for their opening try, however the response from the visitors was immediate and emphatic, David Nee coasting his way over from the back of the scrum to seal the Moascar’s fate.
Prop Isaiah Malaulau scored a stunning late consolation for the home side but the result had long been assured.
Joey Scott and Levi Carew made the most of their limited opportunities with ball in hand while lock Taya Brown shone in a forward pack that spent the majority of the match on the back foot.
Christchurch captain Louie Chapman says Nelson deserved to hold the coveted cup as long as they did.
"We knew coming up here would be no easy feat, the last time we held the Moascar was back in 2004, we know the history behind it and how tough it was going to be so it’s a really proud moment.”
Isaiah Malaulau scores a late consolation. Photo: Evan Barnes/Shuttersport NZ.
By SAMUEL JOHNSON [WCS]
Waimea Combined Schools lost in their first game after the holiday break, going down 47 - 20 to Rangiora High School at Waimea College on Saturday. Fantastic tries to Jake Jenner, Cameron Rodrigue and Jakiah Young were overshadowed by Waimea’s lacklustre defence, with Rangiora crossing the line 7 times.
Danny Barham, Codey Fearnley and Tyler Palmer all had strong games off the bench, but it was too little too late as Rangiora had already amounted a lead too big to overcome.
Waimea Combined has their last home game of the regular season this weekend when they host Timaru Boys High School.
BY
PETER JONES [Marlborough App]
The Marlborough Boys’ College First XV
rugby team’s chances of a top half finish on the University of Canterbury
championship table hang by a thread after they were beaten 38-15 by Christ’s
College today.
The visitors to the MBC front field made
a strong start, racing to a 10-0 lead through a try to centre Inosi
Nasiganiyavi, plus a penalty and conversion by midfielder Shun Miyake.
However, the Falcons quickly found their
feet, levelling after 20 minutes through a try to impressive No 8 Jaydn
Holdaway, coupled with a conversion and penalty to fullback Keelan Murrell.
But Christ’s continued to threaten on
attack, Nasiganiyavi’s second try, also converted, stretching the lead to 17-10
before hooker Arthur Allen crashed over from a rolling maul a minute before halftime.
Miyake’s conversion gave the visitors a handy 24-10 lead at the break.
MBC needed to be the first to score
after half time and flanker Josh Chapman was the man on the spot, reducing the
margin to 24-15.
However that was where the good news
ended for MBC, who missed a golden opportunity midway through the half.
Hot on attack, and looking likely to
produce a long range try, they spilled the ball and Christ’s pounced, first
five Kurtis Weeks scoring a "14-point turnaround” try which, with Miyake’s
fourth conversion allowed them a 16-point lead.
Forced to play catch-up rugby, MBC
spread the ball left and right but Christ’s defence held firm and, when the
home side coughed up possession, the visitors iced the cake with their fifth
try on the stroke of fulltime.
The result, and a failure to grab any
points, sees MBC slip to 10th in the UC championship rankings,
two places off a spot in the forthcoming second tier play-offs.
They have two more round robin games,
both at home, to remedy the situation, meeting Roncalli-Aoraki Combined next
week, then St Thomas on August 11. Christ’s College hang onto second position.
Coach Gray Cornelius was philosophical
after the match. "The fact we didn’t get any points today makes it really
tough for us [to make the second four play-offs], which I don’t think reflects
our ability, which is a shame.”
"We had a lot of opportunities
today, it was just that last 10 percent – whether it was a missed lineout throw
or a bad decision when we were hard on attack, crucial things that we couldn’t
quite get right.”
Cornelius was happy with his side’s
defence, particularly on the goalline as Christ’s played to their forward
strength, mixing positional dominance with big scrums and lineout drives.
"Our forwards worked really hard because we knew they were going to bring
one-off runners … our aggression and energy was pretty good.”
"We also tried a few new things
today and they worked as well,” he added.
Loosies Holdaway and Sky Boskett-Barnes
defended and carried well while Keelan Murrell provided danger from the back
throughout.