Bonus-point wins in Country rugby
Plenty of bonus points were dished out in the opening round of the Combined Country Cup rugby competition on Saturday.
The combined competition kicked off on Friday night, with Darfield taking a comfortable 32-12 win over Saracens in section one.
Darfield raced out to a 27-0 lead by halftime and although they only added one try in the second half, they held Saracens to the two scores. Ricky Allin and Jordy Gray scored for Saracens.
On Saturday, defending champions Waihora fought back from 5-17 down to beat Prebbleton 18-17.
Celtic converted a 12-3 halftime lead into a 29-13 win over hosts Ohoka, with Pete Donaldson and Ben Johnson scoring for Ohoka.
Glenmark-Cheviot picked up a bonus point in their 37-10 win over Hampstead in Omihi. Brook Retallick had a haul of 22 points with a try, three penalties, and converted tries from Jacob Vincent, Tom Cunningham and Henry Hooker.
Burnham-Dunsandel-Irwell had a hard fought 19-10 win over Hornby - the only game not to feature a bonus point.
All four games in section two resulted in bonus-point wins.
Southbridge had a 27-13 win over rivals Lincoln to win two Ellesmere trophies, while Peni Manumanuniwila marked his 150th game for Southbridge with a try.
Oxford ran in five tries in a convincing 32-10 win over Methven.
Former Ashley winger Pita Sekilagi scored a double on debut for his new club with Ulai Lawavou also scoring two and Wise Rogoyawa the other try. Sean Thompson kicked two conversions and a penalty. Methven was limited to a first half Davey Maw penalty, and a late consolation converted try to Maw.
A hat-trick to winger Junior Kaukirewa was the highlight of Kaiapoi’s bonus-point win over Rolleston. Chris Smith and Naci Namata scored the other two tries while newcomer, former Ashley first-five Lance Taylor, kicked two conversions and two penalties.
Rakaia also banked a bonus point beating West Melton 35-13.
Southern had the bye. Meanwhile, the Kaiapoi senior women had a second big preseason win beating Marist-Albion 50-7. Kaiapoi kicks off the Metro division one women’s competition next week at home to Lincoln University.