Three victories for Dunedin teams but first defeat for University
SOUTH Pacific Raiders, Kia Toa Tigers, and Dunedin Bears all secured wins over their southern opponents in the first of four combined OtagoSouthland rounds on Saturday but University fell to Southland competition leader the Cowboys.
University was handed its first defeat of the 2018 season, going down 3212 to a strong Cowboys side. In difficult playing conditions, the Cowboys showed great skill in a dominant first half performance in which they attacked the edges with creative play.
NathanJon Anderson was crucial in directing play to the edges and centres Daniel Clarke and Logo Tee Peteru regularly pierced the University defence by running great lines and employing clever footwork.
The second half was much more of a contest. University strengthened its defensive efforts and showed some of the threats it possesses on attack.
Centre Brooklan Niwa had the Cowboys’ defence scrambling with his sharp footwork, running around the ruck defenders with ease.
Tyson Ball continued his tryscoring ways, scoring both of the students’ tries through strong ball carries on the left edge. Their efforts were in vain, however, as they were unable to compensate for the Cowboys’ highscoring first half.
The South Pacific Raiders came away with a 3428 victory over He Tauaa. Coach David Reedy credited the win to defensive improvements, and was proud his side was able to defend multiple backtoback sets on its own line.
He Tauaa was leading for most of the game, and applied immense pressure through its strong forward pack led by Willie Pera and Shaun TamarikiTodd, and directed around the park by playmaker Javaan Fa’amoeIoane.
The Raiders stayed in the contest through the work of middle forwards Lausei Pritchard and Ben Rumble, who both worked
tirelessly and were rewarded with tries. The two other middle forwards, Mika Vaitupu and Jayden Hollander, shored up the defence, each making 20plus tackles and Vaitupu also claiming a try off a grubber kick from standoff Steven CampbellPaniona.
The win was secured in the dying minutes of the game when Hollander sliced through a hole with a show and go and set off down the field to draw the fullback and feed the ball to winger James Piho, who raced away to score the gamewinning try.
The Dunedin Bears demolished the struggling WintonCity team, running rampant in a 1160 win at Elles Rd in Invercargil, after leading 500 at halftime. The Bears forwards and backs provided multiple scoring opportunities from all directions.
Standout performances were aplenty, with forwards Ben Sorenson and Reuben Katene impressing and scoring two tries apiece. Outside back Chase Stephens scored four tries by running some elusive lines at times, but also being able to run direct at the defence when required.
Captain Terrence Reid said the greatest statistic of the game was keeping the opposition scoreless, despite it looking as if Winton was certain to score on occasion.
The Kia Toa Tigers retained the Zulu and Manuel Memorial Trophy contested in games between them and the Cooks club from Invercargill, notching up a 2818 victory after a slow start.
The Cooks came out firing, scoring two tries in 10 minutes and putting the Tigers on the back foot. However, the Tigers managed to claw their way back through an improved defensive effort, and by the second half they were playing far more effectively as a unit.
Lock Hagen Free scored three tries and again topped the tackles and hitups for his side. Free was wellsupported by Joel Taniora whose strong defence and attacking prowess were key to the Tigers performance.
Props Koben Katipa and Jordan Fuatavai led from the front and laid the attacking platform that other key players, such as Apii Taia and Joseph Wrathall, benefited from.