Kia Toa hit the skids against Ob-marist
Kia Toa’s spot in the top four in Manawatu club rugby now sits in a precarious position following their 48-13 loss to Old Boys-marist on Saturday.
Last season’s runners up failed to fire as they were blown out late by a spirited OBM side.
The match had been close in the first half and the 26-13 scoreline at halftime flattered OBM.
OBM were first on the scoreboard through a try to prop Fraser Armstrong, whose rare appearance for the club this season ended less than 10 minutes into the match with an injury.
But Kia Toa were also looking dangerous with Jordan Bunce finding space at first five-eighth and second five-eighth Vilikesa Raboiliku threatening to break out like he did when the sides met in round one.
Fullback Keaton Kawana bagged the first try and had another shortly after.
The second try came after a big break from wing Malua Mauola made a big break.
Mauola would have scored the try himself had he backed himself and gone for the corner. Instead he cut back infield and was tackled with Kawana getting the reward a couple of phases later.
OBM picked up an intercept try to Ben Werthmuller, who had a strong match, and then another to Hunter Prescott after a Kameli Kuruyabaki break.
Kuruyabaki then dotted down for a try of his own after some good interchange with Bain Champion.
Kia Toa continued to attack the channels either side of Champion, but OBM covered him well with loose forwards Rhys Pedersen and Benedict Grant stepping up.
The second half started evenly, but Kia Toa lacked the patience to build attacking pressure.
As the match wore on, their frustrations started to boil over.
Flanker Bethel Fauolo was yellow carded for a dangerous tackle and while Kia Toa survived the 10 minutes he was off the field, things got worse when he returned.
Whitiaua Black was then yellow carded for a high tackle, before Moeaki Samita followed him two minutes later for a no-arms tackle.
From there Kia Toa fell apart.
Aside for a handful of solid carries from Brayden Iose, they offered little on attack or defence.
OBM took full advantage, storming home with four late tries.
(Ben Werthmuller 2, Fraser Armstrong, Hunter Prescott, Chris Long, Kameli Kuruyabaki, Troy Sheriff, Blair Hannam tries; Bain Champion 4 con) (K Kawana 2 tries; M Samita 1 con). HT 26-13 OBM. At Arena.
Varsity’s 10-match unbeaten streak was finally halted 16-14 by Feilding, who claimed the Challenge Cup.
The defending champions have cruised through the regular season since dropping their first game to Fob-oroua. But it was another team from Feilding who proved to be their nemesis this time, with Yellows holding on for the win.
Old Boys-marist 48 Kia Toa 13
First five-eighth Ben Wyness scored all Feilding’s points in the first half, but he didn’t do it alone.
They put in a big effort in the forwards with prop Sean Rankin having his best game since returning from Holland and lock Sammy Pesamino continuing his outstanding streak of form.
The call on the field of line speed and first contact was one all the Yellows players responded to.
They got into the faces of the Varsity ball carriers and shut them down. Their scrum found its mojo, leaving Varsity on the back foot for the first time this year.
The only thing not working was Feilding’s lineouts.
Varsity were perhaps guilty of taking Yellows, who have struggled this season, too lightly.
With a number of their frontline players stationed on the bench, they needed those who were starting to play at their peak.
Instead, the likes of Hamish Northcott and Sam Tufuga were guilty of making too many uncharacteristic errors.
Yellows had all the running early in that match, but when Max Tufuga crossed for Varsity after 20 minutes to give them a 7-3 lead, the feeling was that the defending champions would kick on.
But five minutes later, Wyness ripped the ball from Varsity first five-eighth Scott Davidson before scooting away for an 80m try.
His kicking radar was on song and the consistent points they picked up made them worthy of their 16-7 halftime lead.
Varsity improved in the second half, but the persistence of the Feilding defence and their counterrucking caused plenty of issues.
A sole try to replacement halfback Jamie Booth, who was dangerous when he entered the match, was not enough for Varsity to claw back the match.
Among the standouts for Feilding were Pesamino, Wyness, Rankin, Crete Cribb and Hamish Willis.
Mickey Woolliams had another impressive game for Varsity as did hooker Nick Grogan. Halfback Jamie Booth was impressive when he came off the bench.
(Ben Wyness try; Wyness con, 3 pen) (Max Tufuga, Jamie Booth tries; Scott Davidson 2 con). HT: 16-7 Feilding. At Arena.
Feilding Old Boys-oroua handed out another head start, but they still managed to beat Linton Army 36-26.
In what is becoming a common
Feilding 16 Varsity 14
theme for the Stags, they let their opposites get on top of them early in the match, before being shaken back to life. Linton started with intensity. Once again the soldiers were left short of their full strength team with army commitments and injuries ruling out most of the top players they had expected to return for the match.
But the men who filled their places proved up to the task, particularly up front. Hooker Josh Devine was one of the stars.
His two try effort included an 80m scamper for a try.
Prop Nick Fakahau and flanker Angis White were the other leading lights in the forward pack.
Linton led 14-0 early in the match. But Fob-oroua came back to trail 21-19 at halftime. The Stags copped some injuries. Paora Rakatau went down in the warm up, while Jamie Perigo and Willy Ambaka were held back with niggling injuries.
They then lost Cody Shailer and Lewis Marshall during the match with ankle injuries.
As the Stags turned around in the second half, they had a healthy wind at their backs which was well used by halfback Tom Stewart.
His box kicking was pinpoint and got Fob-oroua into good field position on a regular basis.
On the back of that, they put Linton under some heavy pressure and the soldiers quickly lost their grasp on the lead and then the match with No 8 Alex Hawira getting metres out of his carries. A late try to Devine salvaged a bonus point for Linton.
26 Feilding Old Boys-oroua 36
(Tom Stewart 2, Hemi Bettridge, Amon Panikoula, Ollie Brosnahan tries; Stewart pen, 4 con)
(Josh Devine 2, Nick Fakahau, Leni Tonga tries; Kaden Morrison 3 con). HT: 21-19 Linton. At Linton.
Freyberg’s struggles continued with a 66-3 loss to College Old Boys.
The side’s depth was light heading into the season and a host of injuries has seen more players called up from their B team.
While many of those stepping up have performed admirably, without many of their stars, they have struggled to foot it on attack and have failed to handle their tasks on defence.
Against a COB side sniffing a chance to push for top spot on the ladder, it was always going to be an uphill battle for Freyberg.
COB were not clicking perfectly in the first half. They continued with their experiment of playing Karl Bryson at first five-eighth and continue to have mixed results.
But the halftime message hit the right note. COB were merciless as they turned on a solid display, but were still not perfect.
They spread the ball around well with the Patrick Tafili-reid and Brice Henderson both getting two tries in the 10-try rout.
Flanker Christian Kellerman was one of the few to standout for Freyberg. He got through plenty of work and did not shy away from contact despite being one of the smaller players. Karl Stewart and Andrew Wood were also busy.
COB’S best were hooker Cory Waho and lock Sei Grewe. Jared Goodson was playing his final game of the season before he heads overseas and then down to Invercargill for work.
College Old Boys 66 Linton
(Patrick Tafili-reid 2, Brice Henderson 2, Tyler Rogers-holden, Nick Blundell, Adam Coll, Sei Grewe, Cory Waho, Cyrus Baker tries; Karl Bryson 8 con) (Wiremu Morgan pen). HT: 26-3 COB. At Arena.
Freyberg 3