Excelsior thrashed by Old Boys despite gal

OLD Boys did not have it all its own way when it defeated bottom team Excelsior 7512 in the feature game on Saturday.

Excelsior is going through some hard times with injuries and a lack of depth of experienced players.

The side it put on the paddock was a weak one, with past players and nonplaying club members making up the squad.

But despite what it may have lacked in real talent, there was no denying its courage.

The outweighed forward pack, led by Matt Duff, used the pickandgo tactic. To the side’s credit, it scored twice and on fulltime was still attacking the opposition line.

Old Boys led 140 after the first quarter, with tries to lock Anthony Amoto and hooker Brandon Mangold, both of which were converted by Inoke Naufahu.

Two minutes into the second quarter the Excelsior supporters erupted when hooker Jack Williams was driven over for an unconverted try.

The second quarter belonged to Old Boys, as centre Taani Vaitohi, Harry Frost, Mangold and Omega Masoe touched down. Naufahu converted all the tries, giving Old Boys a 425 halftime lead.

Old Boys midfielder Timoci Bulitava scored the first secondhalf try, before Excelsior first fiveeighth Kayne Middleton converted prop Uhila Malifu’s try to reach double figures.

To the credit of the Excelsior defence, it restricted Old Boys to only four tries in the final 27 minutes. Lemi Masoe, Sione Halalele, Vili Sanft and Amato touched down and Naufahu converted three of the tries.

Athletic Marist hit top gear from the kickoff at Weston against Valley, with tries to second fiveeighth Taina Tamou and threequarter Simon Lillicama.

Both tries were converted by first fiveeighth Mason Kinzett.

Dan Lewis marked his return to Valley for the winter with a 60m try after an intercept.

A second Tamou try midway through the half took Athletic