Marlborough College stumble against Timaru Boys’ High
RUGBY: Marlborough College’s Crusaders Secondary School’s semifinal hopes are hanging by a thread.
The side suffered an 18-12 loss to a fired up Timaru Boys’ High School lineup.
It was a clash Marlborough would have targeted as one they could could win following Timaru Boys’ up-and-down form of late.
Marlborough defeated a fired up Burnside High School last week, but the odd inconsistency has been noted, with the side who falling to a loss against Rangiora High School earlier in the season.
The clash played at School Park in Timaru was dominated by the visitors in the opening five minutes, they were all over the home side.
A couple of strong rolling mauls and a strong backline incision from fullback Josh Reece had Marlborough looking in ominous form.
However, it quickly went down hill for the northerners.
Timaru Boys’ High School woke up and Marlborough seemed to go away from had worked so well early and began to force passes that weren’t there.
Timaru Boys’ picked up the first points of the encounter through a Monty Nixon penalty, before a Cullen Grace try has them ahead 8-0.
A lineout maul, which caught Marlborough off guard, saw Grace claim his second and extend the lead for Boys’ High to 15-0.
Marlborough started the better of the two sides in the second half but were again let down by some poor decision making.
It took until midway through the second half for them to find their feet and for passes to stick.
Their first try was superb, they counter attacked from deep in their own end, with winger Isaac Rawlings neatly finishing it off.
Timaru Boys’ High School kicked a penalty but that was it for the hosts, with visitors scoring the final points of the clash.
Marlborough’s second try was against the run of play as number eight Joshua Godsiff made a storming surge down field after the ball popped out of a ruck.
It was finished off a few plays later by replacement forward Owen Soper, to reduce the deficit to six.
They tried their best to claim the match late but were unable to do so.
Marlborough’s best were hooker Samiuela Moli, openside flanker Taine Cragg-Love, Godsiff and second five Nigel Satherley, who made a couple of strong runs but seemed to be hampered by a knee complaint.
Grace, Kaleb Hunt Wheeler and Ofa Manuofetoa were the best for Timaru Boys’.
Next up for the side is a clash against perennial competition heavyweights St Bede’s College, who also look destined to miss out on the top four.