Pare Plim’s struggles continue on field
Javan Brown knows all the effort in the world often doesn’t translate to points on the board.
The Paremata Plimmerton premier rugby coach cut a frustrated figure as his team let another Swindale Shield match get away on Saturday, this time against Wellington.
The final score of 43-10 didn’t give a true account – Paremata Plimmerton trailed by only two points close to halftime at Hataitai Park.
But Wellington piled on pressure, scored twice quickly, and it was 19-5 at the turnaround.
Paremata Plimmerton hooker Apirana McMillan-Parata scored just after the break, but the Axemen upped the tempo and eventually skipped away.
‘‘It was the same old, same old,’’ Brown said. ‘‘We’re competitive for 60 minutes and at some point, whether it’s after halftime or the last 20, we have a major lapse and it costs us.
‘‘You can’t afford to do that at this level in Wellington club rugby. Against big teams like Hutt Old Boys Marist and MSP, we’ve been in it for 75 minutes, but that’s not good enough.’’
Brown told his team after Saturday’s game that effort was not the issue - it was sticking with teams for 80 minutes. Despite being second to bottom in the competition – they play lastplaced Johnsonville on May 14 at Ngatitoa Domain, for their Old Timers Day – Brown said the mood in the squad was positive.
However, preparations are being made for the second-tier Hardham Cup competition.
‘‘We’ll have a review before the second round [Hardham] and look to tighten things up. I’m confident we can notch some wins in the next few weeks. We’re building in the right direction.’’
Also on Saturday, Tawa beat Wainuiomata 25-23 to go fourth in the table and Northern United lost heavily, 64-15 to Marist St Pat’s, and drop to seventh.
In a full round of matches last Wednesday, Tawa overcame Poneke 10-9, Norths went down 34-29 to Old Boys-University, and Paremata Plimmerton lost 33-6 to Hutt Old Boys Marist.
On Saturday, Norths’ women’s side continued their unbeaten season, thrashing Marist St Pat’s 66-5. Helen Collins scored three tries to take her tally to 13 this season.