Cyclones cop big defeat
The Manawatu¯ Cyclones have found out how hard it will be if they want to contend for the Farah Palmer Cup in a 48-12 loss to Canterbury.
Canterbury were too strong at the Arena, Palmerston North, on Sunday, led by their star Black Ferns halfback Kendra Cocksedge.
The Cyclones are still fourth in the premiership and will be targeting at least one win from their final two games, Waikato and Hawke’s Bay, to lock up a place in the semifinals.
Manawatu¯ coach Fusi Feaunati said they didn’t have the energy levels they would have liked. ‘‘That was a very disappointing outing for us,’’ he said. ‘‘We’ve got it out of the way and now we just have to focus on the next one and where we sit on the table at the moment. We’re still about fourth.
Feaunati said they don’t want to have to reply on favours from other teams – they want to control their own destiny.
Against defending champions Canterbury, Manawatu¯ had little ball, spending a lot of time on defence, and they couldn’t break Canterbury down when they had possession.
Canterbury found holes in midfield when they spread it and were up 29-0 at halftime thanks to a clinical opening stanza. Manawatu¯ had a dysfunctional lineout in the first half, which didn’t help proceedings and led to a Canterbury try when they stole the ball five metres out.
Once Canterbury’s maestro Cocksedge went off, Manawatu¯ came back into the game and strung phases together, but couldn’t create anything.
Manawatu¯ scored two tries, including a cracking effort by centre Kalyn Takitimu-cook, who left defenders grasping at thin air after being set up by fullback Carys Dallinger. She looked a threat with limited chances, while No 8 Nicole Dickins never stopped working. horo when ua Ka¯ piti kept their chances of reaching the top four in the Heartland Championship with a 37-21 win over Wairarapa Bush in Levin on Saturday. The win puts Horowhenua Ka¯ piti in fifth ahead of their home clash with King Country this weekend.
The Manawatu¯ Development team’s season ended with a whimper as they were thrashed 100-15 by Hawke’s Bay at Napier.
The Manawatu¯ under-16s lost 34-24 to Wellington at Playford Park in Levin, having led 17-5 at halftime.
Feilding High School midfielder Josiah Maraku has been named in the New Zealand Secondary Schools and Palmerston North Boys’ High School first five-eighth Stewart Cruden has been named in the New Zealand Secondary Schools Barbarians team. Palmerston North Boys’ High School back Ruben Love and Hato Pa¯ ora College No 8 Nikora Broughton are in the Under-18 Ma¯ ori team.