SAMUEL JOHNSON Reports
Waimea Combined Schools 29 v St Andrews College 32
A late penalty goal was the difference in an well contested game between Waimea and St. Andrews at Waimea college. Waimea combined came out strong but the inability to win clean line out ball in the first 20 gave the visitors plenty of pill to use, with St. Andrews scoring the first two tries. Waimea hit back with their own double shortly after off some very good back attack from midfielders Jan Lammers and Ryan Churchill breaking through and linking up with the outside backs.
Waimea combined and St. Andrews exchanged try for try throughout the rest of the game until a penalty goal with 10 minutes to go put the visitors in the drivers seat for the remainder of the fixture to which they closed down any attack plays Waimea threw at them.
Waimea Combined travel to Timaru this weekend to take on aoraki combined.
PETER GRIGG Reports
St Bede's 27 v Nelson College 19 (Levi Carew, Joseph Scott, Daniel Rogers tries, Carew, Niko Barton cons)
The Nelson College 1st XV were out muscled by a well drilled and disciplined St. Bede's team on Saturday. Right from the get go the home team piled on the pressure and although the Nelson defence held firm, the territory and possession advantage were inevitably going to result in points.
Nelson would have probably considered themselves a little fortunate to only trail 14-5 at the break as first five eighth Levi Carew scored the visitors first try as a result of them finally being able to minimize errors. A malfunctioning lineout did the visitors no favours as they struggled to maintain any continuity on attack.
By contrast St. Bedes set piece was solid and it had a steady supply of good, go forward ball. Stocky halfback Jackson Youngman probed well and kept his team on the front foot. Big centre Etonia Bainivalu proved a handful with ball in hand.
For Nelson College flanker Jordy Newsome foraged manfully to try to gain and regain possession. Defensively Daniel Dixon at lock and later hooker made some important and telling tackles and second five eighth Vaea Tutuila were the standouts.
Nelson missed their inspirational captain Anton Segner who was out with a back injury and will welcome him back for their next fixture against Rangiora High School.