McKenna reaches a ton
Coastal’s Rick McKenna played his 100th game for the club in Saturday’s latest round of the CMK premier club rugby competition.
The rare milestone was celebrated with fellow players and supporters after Coastal’s 27-11 win at the Okato Domain over Spotswood United, in which McKenna slotted a conversion and penalty goal.
Another product of Francis Douglas Memorial College, McKenna debuted for the club in 2008 after representing New Zealand Secondary Schools the year before.
He has played in every backline position for the club, but now floats between first five-eighth and fullback.
McKenna is not only a key player for Coastal but has experience with Taranaki’s national provincial championship side and also the Taranaki development and sevens squads over the years. He has spent a couple of seasons playing in Scotland, England and Ireland.
Tukapa first five-eighth Jayson Potroz continues his form from last year, setting up three tries and scoring one himself in their 29-25 win over Inglewood under lights on Friday night.
His passing skills and ability to find space has been a key feature of his game for a number of years.
The first try was scored by Lagen Kumeroa after Potroz floated a pass over Inglewood’s defence.
The 2017 Club Player of the Year then dotted down himself after Tukapa won a tighthead scrum and he sliced through two defenders to score under the posts.
He initiated two other tries by putting players into space, but it was the final score of the match that was the most memorable, with excellent offloading between Potroz and wing Daniel Bernet leading to a try by halfback Ryan Bishop.
In the other matches of the weekend, Stratford/Eltham drew
18-all with Clifton and New Plymouth Old Boys beat Southern
27-25 in Ha¯ wera.
In next weekend’s round, Stratford/Eltham are at home to Coastal, Tukapa host Clifton at Sanders Park, New Plymouth Old Boys face Spotswood United at Vogeltown Park, and Inglewood travel south to Southern at Hicks Park in Ha¯ wera.
Week 3 results: Premier: Southern 25-27 NPOB Clifton 18-18 SERFC IURFC 25-29 Tukapa Coastal 27-12 SURFC Division 1: Southern 42-12 NPOB Clifton 21-45 SERFC Coastal 55-3 SURFC Division 2: Southern 46-19 NPOB Coastal 72-5 SURFC IURFC
25-0 Tukapa Toko 19-10 SERFC PATEA 66-5 Bell Block Okaiawa
34-29 Kaponga Colts: Southern
10-19 NPOB Clifton 39-0 SERFC IURFC 17-20 Tukapa Coastal v SURFC not yet reported