By Peter Grigg [Nelson College]
The Nelson College 1st XV overcame both a tenacious opponent and cold, clammy weather conditions to register a bonus point victory over Roncalli Aoraki Combined Schools in their round 2 UC Championship match on Saturday. Playing in the fog and mist in Timaru, Nelson eventually eased out to a 43-3 score line after leading 26-3 at half time.
Nelson’s set piece was solid as they attempted to maintain continuity through ball possession. The wet weather put paid to those plans somewhat as the ball became more difficult to handle as the match wore on. They enjoyed consistent territorial advantage and it was only their own mistakes which kept the score line from blowing out. Number eight Taya Brown gave Nelson good go forward especially in the second half as the visitors tightened things up. Debutant Hunter Leppien grafted solidly and in the backs Louis Carmine put in an honest day’s work both in attack and defence.
Roncalli never really threatened though Hayden Kerr’s penalty was reward for the smaller team never giving up the fight. Nelson will need to be more accurate against the unbeaten St. Bedes on their first home game this Saturday.
Nelson College 43 (Preston Marsters, Charlie Perkins, Louis Carmine, Taya Brown, Hunter Griffith, Anton Segner, Hunter Leppien tries, Connor Wilkins (3), Niko Barton conversions) Roncalli Aoraki 3 (Hayden Kerr penalty). HT 26-3
By Samuel Johnson [WSC]
Waimea Combined Schools got their first win of the season when they hosted Mid Canterbury Combined at Garin College, sneaking home 17 - 15.
For the second time in two matches Waimea conceded a try within the first play of the game, with a poor kick chase proving costly.
5 minutes later Waimea were once again hard on defence on their own line until Mackay Springer intercepted a long ball to run the length of the field to score under the sticks, he converted his own try to gain the lead 7 - 5.
Waimea were the next to score when a perfectly executed backline move off the back of the scrum put winger Jake Jenner through a hole to dot down next to the posts. Mackay Springer was once again on target to take the scoring out to 14 - 5.
A lack of discipline cost Waimea 3 points shortly after, and on the back of some good momentum Mid Canterbury went in for their second try on the stroke of half time to regain the lead 15 - 14.
Both teams threw everything at each other in the second hand, with Waimea using their bench effectively to lift the tempo.
The second half was scoreless until a late penalty opportunity arose for Waimea, with Mackay Springer once again stepping up and nailing the kick to seal the win.
Luca Orlowski provided good metres on attack, and was dynamic at ruck time while Caleb Sproul was dropping everyone that ran at him on defence. Jaxon Taikato was also very good at fullback on his debut.
Waimea Combined Schools travel south this weekend to take in St Andrews in round 3.
Waimea Combined 17 (Mackay Springer, Jake Jenner tries, Springer con 2, pen) Mid Canterbury Combined 15.
By Peter Jones [Marlborough App]
The Marlborough Boys’ College First XV rugby team were handed a few hard lessons on Saturday, losing their University of Canterbury championship match against St Andrew’s College 30-24 on the MBC front field.
In the first half the home side leaked four relatively soft first half tries, all through the outside backs, and despite three penalties by Keelan Murrell and a blockbusting try to MBC’s man of the match, prop Monu Moli, they trailed 24-14 at the break.
An early try to Murrell, who also booted his fourth penalty, closed the gap in the second spell, but two penalties to impressive St Andrew’s fullback Ben Innes ensured the visitors went home with four well-earned points.
MBC picked up a bonus point for their efforts, but were left to rue ill-discipline, which left them on the wrong side of a lop-sided penalty count, plus some pretty ineffectual defense, especially in the first 35.
MBC head coach Matt MacDougall labelled his side “slow learners”. “In the last three weeks our penalty count has been around 25 … our poor discipline is letting our opponents piggy back into our end of the field and they just pile on the points. Today we played catch-up rugby most of the game.
“It’s not the style of rugby we want to be playing … always chasing the game, if we sorted our discipline out we could play the game at our pace.”
MBC’s next match is an interschool and UC championship fixture on Tuesday, May 21, against Shirley BHS in Blenheim.
St Andrew’s 30 (Harry Waghorn 2, Dominic Clarke, Ben Innes tries, Innes 2 con, 2 pen) MBC 24 (Monu Moli, Keelan Murrell tries, Murrell 4 pen, con). HT 24-14 STAC