Matamata Chronicle

Goals galore for Swifts teams

- DWAYNE BARLOW

Matamata Swifts four senior teams had a productive weekend, scoring 16 goals and winning a cup in the process.

On Saturday, the triple header at the Domain saw Swifts sides win two from three.

Waikato Stud Matamata Swifts defeated relegation-threatened Tauranga Boys College 3-0 in the Loaded WaiBOP Premiershi­p with French striker, Ben Vogt, netting a hat-trick.

Matamata took the steam out of their opponents inside the first 20 minutes, with Vogt scoring twice to ease any anxiety.

The visitors had their moments but the goals effectivel­y nullified their threat.

Matamata hit the woodwork three times before Vogt popped up with his third 20 minutes into the second half to win the game.

Brad West and Chris Walker proved a constant threat going forward, while Andrew Clothier and Sam Masterson controlled the middle of the park.

In the early game, the Richardson Racing Stables Swifts reserves lost 3-2 to promotion chasing Te Awamutu.

An early Daryl Gibbs goal had the reserves ahead but the visitors struck twice by the break.

Gibbs managed to level things up not long after half time but Te Awamutu struck a superb winner to maintain second spot on the table.

The Swifts A team had their best win of the season, a 5-2 hammering of Hamilton Wanderers. Both Ronan Costello, with a hat-trick, and Jamie Cox took their goal tally into double figures for the season.

Youngster Radge Avergonzad­o also found the back of the net as reward for another good effort for the side.

On Sunday, the Challenge Matamata Swifts Ladies blew Mangakino off the park, with five first half goals setting up a 6-1 away win, the teams’ third on the trot.

Patrice Adamson and Annemieke Verstraten both scored twice, while Zoe Reichardt and an own goal rounded out the scoring for a ladies side whose recent form has seen them shoot up the Waikato Women’s League table.

As an added bonus, the win saw the ladies win the Carter Family Memorial Challenge Cup, which is played for throughout the season.

The holders must defend it during every home game during the season.

Remarkably, the visitors played with just 41 per cent possession, 32 per cent territory, made 118 tackles to the Stormers’ 74, missed 23 tackles to 18, conceded eight penalties to five, while the hosts didn’t lose a lineout and offloaded 11 times to eight.

The Chiefs were at their lethal best, and their silky skills shone bright, with Damian McKenzie’s nine from 10 off the tee helping him to 25 points and man of the match honours.

Chiefs coach Dave Rennie lauded his men for stepping up their execution from the previous weekend’s Super Rugby match.

‘‘Attitude was great, I thought our support play was sensationa­l,’’ Rennie said.

It sets up a blockbuste­r of a semifinal in Wellington on Saturday night.

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