More heartbreak for Marist as Central edge top of table
Closer but still no cigar for Marist as they fell one point short to Central in a repeat of last year’s Stuff Tasman Trophy final at Blenheim’s Landsdowne Park.
On the same ground last July, Central held on for a 20-16 over Marist win to grab consecutive titles.
On Saturday, a late penalty got the home team through, ensuring they remain unbeaten after three close matches. It was a good weekend for Marlborough clubs, with Moutere recording their first win in a tight tussle with Nelson.
Kahurangi also got on the board by beating Waimea Old Boys.
Kahurangi 36 Waimea Old Boys 18
The season’s first game at Motueka’s Sports Park saw the home crowd go home happy.
It was a tight contest in the first half. Waimea coach Scott McKenzie said his team played some really good football, closing to within a point before a Kahurangi try just before the break gave them some breathing space.
Kahurangi coach Brendon Smith said ill-discipline cost his team in the first spell, giving away several penalties that brought the visitors into the match he described as a “good arm wrestle”.
The home team pulled away in the second half with two more tries, including a second for No 10 Stewart Cruden, who racked up 21 points in the match.
Smith said No 12 Sefo Soonalole also had a strong match.
For Waimea, McKenzie said prop Joel Lauvale and Theo Simone, off the bench, were his standout players.
Central 15 Marist 14
Marist rued a lost opportunity to get one back over the defending champions on a rain-drenched Lansdowne Park.
Marist coach Seta Sauira said his team didn’t capitalise on its possession and territorial advantage in the first half.
He felt over-confidence led to the team turning down kickable opportunities. A knock-on from an attacking scrum and players held up over the line meant Marist took a slender 3-0 lead at the break.
Central hit back with tries to Henry Powell and Quentin MacDonald, but Marist still had the chance to snatch victory when winger Timcoi Sauira scored with less than 10-minutes left.
However, a 76th minute penalty to Cameron Hansford saw the Blenheim club keep its unbeaten record.
“I’m quite happy with the effort, but not the result,” Sauira said.
Moutere 8 Nelson 5
Moutere’s home ground at Awarua Park, Spring Creek, stood up well to the storm that hit the region last week, but the wet conditions made for a stop-start game in the battle of winless teams.
Moutere coach Jordan Hart said both teams tried to play lots of rugby, but that resulted in regular turnovers when a territorial game would have been better suited to the conditions. The effort and intensity was there, but lapses in execution and game smarts were costly, he added.
After a scoreless first half, Moutere prop Monu Moli plunged over from a lineout drive before Nelson’s Nicholas Foxley evened the match with a try in the 72nd minute. Cameron Hansford kicked the winning penalty with four minutes left.
For the home team, Hart said Moana Pasifika Super rugby player Michael Curry was immense, while Moli and halfback Bray Taumoefolau played well.
Standings: Central 12 points, Marist 11, Kahurangi 6, Stoke 5, Waimea Old Boys 5, Moutere 4, Nelson 1.