Valley game in defeat to Old Boys
SOME times when you lose you can win, a thought that would be circulating in the Valley changing room after its 2914 loss to competition leader Old Boys on a wet Saturday at Whitestone Contracting Stadium.
The Valley team, made up of players who have yet to make an impact in Citizens Shield rugby, displayed what teamwork and discipline can produce.
Old Boys rattled on 26 points in the first quarter and the writing appeared to be on the wall. But the pickandgo tactic utilised by Valley coaches Mike Mavor and Shane Carter meant Old Boys was held scoreless for the next 49 minutes.
Big lockcumwinger Sale Pi’i touched down from a tap penalty nine minutes into the game and, three minutes later, a Lemi Masoe break resulted in second fiveeighth Timoci Bulitavu racing 38m to score for Inoke Naufahu to convert.
It looked as though the Old Boys machine was in full flight when in the space of three minutes left winger Omega Masoe scored twice, both of which were converted by Naufahu to take Old Boys out to a 260 lead.
The Valley forwards then applied the pressure and, a minute from halftime, prop Meli Kolinisau barged over for Brad McKenzie to convert.
With the Valley forwards applying the pressure, blindside flanker Sam Sturgess scored for McKenzie to convert to narrow the gap to 12 points midway through the second half.
Eight minutes from fulltime, Naufahu kicked a penalty to complete the scoring. The points went to Old Boys but the honour to Valley.
Maheno confirmed its third place with a a comefrombehind 2621 win over fourthplaced Athletic Marist at the Maheno Domain. The game was marred by a serious injury to former Otago Volts leftarm bowler Craig Smith who was initially suspected of having a spinal injury.
Xrays and treatment left a positive outlook for Smith yesterday.
Smith brothers Robbie and Craig combined to put Maheno into an early lead with a try and a conversion. Athletic’s Ross Lewis levelled the score with a try which Mason Kinzett converted.
At this stage, Craig Smith was injured and, after a lengthy break in play, Maheno captain Hayden Tisdall scored for Robbie Smith’s conversion to take the green and blacks out to a 147 lead. Smith extended to 177 with a penalty prior to halftime. Athletic reduced the margin to just three points with a Jared Whitburn try converted by Kinzett.
Appropriately it was the boot of Smith that sealed the game for Maheno. A penalty made it 2014 but Athletic came back with a try to centre Taina Tamou to put Athletic into a 2120 lead before Smith then slotted two late penalties for a 2621 victory.
On a sticky No 3 ground Isaac Shield celebrated his return to the Excelsior ranks after a season in England with a late try to give his side a bonus point despite a 2016 win for the opposition, secondplaced Kurow.
Kurow first fiveeighth Tyler Burgess kicked an early penalty and, five minutes later, Kurow prop Petelo Houhila continued his tryscoring pat tern by crossing after 13 minutes.
Excelsior first fiveeighth Kayne Middleton kicked two penalties for Excelsior but a penalty try to Kurow took it out to 156 before Excelsior lock Kaye Ruamati scored to make it 1511 to Kurow at halftime.
Kurow No 8 Corey Hollister added an unconverted try before Shields scored a late try to give his side a deserved
bonus point.
Indoor bowls
Meadowbank trio Chris Poole, Ray Souness and Diana McGregor won the final of the weekend’s triples tournament with a 51 win over the Oamaru club team of Mike Howard, Norm Robertson and Eileen Berryman.
Netball, football and hockey were cancelled.