Blue Whales open their account

THE defending champion Uni Blue Whales got its campaign off to a winning start on Saturday, with a successful 20 Challenge Shield defence against Albany.

University had the bye in week one, while Albany lost in a shootout last week, so both teams had a point to prove.

The game never reached the great heights expected given the quality of players on show.

Neither side lacked enthusiasm and accurate passing was possibly sacrificed occasionally to keep up the frenetic pace.

Albany started the stronger and mounted attacking waves in the first 10 minutes, but the Whales’ defence, led by the towering Dan Guthrie, snuffed out anything dangerous.

The momentum began to swing towards the boys in blue as the runandgun style suited the way the game was flowing, but neither side could get ahead.

Albany had a giltedged chance just before the break after a slick double side to side transfer cut the defence apart. However, an excellent save by Whales keeper Allen Carson kept it out.

The second half carried on in the same vein as Albany was unable to rein in its impulses and settle into its usual controlled pattern.

In the end the pressure from the Whales told, as key players Henry Will and Vinnie O’Connor scored goals in the second half to put the side two goals up as time ticked away.

In the other game, Taieri Tuataras won another shootout, this time over Kings, after the match finished 22 in regulation. Uni Black Panthers had the bye.