Decisive win adds icing to Simon Kay’s 100th cake
Te Awamutu Sports celebrated their captain Simon Kay’s 100th Senior A game by putting almost that number of points on the board, thrashing Puta¯ruru 87-14 in Waikato championship rugby.
The inspirational leader picked up a try for his troubles and duly converted it from the sideline as he led his side on a 13 try demolition that included a hat-trick to lock Patrick O’Sullivan, braces for the second week running for Fetu Sasalu and Shauncy Waho and tries to Evaan Reihana, Matthew Towers, Caleb Loomans, Reihana Tai-Rakana and Clark Towers.
Fullback Logan Karl kicked nine out of nine from the tee and Reihana one conversion.
A scoreless stalemate for the first 15 minutes gave no early indication that the floodgates would open up so dramatically with Puta¯ ruru playing in front of their parochial supporters.
Sports looked threatening but lacked those final touches before halfback Ryan McNeil broke through the centre and found Reihana for the first points.
Sasalu then took the ensuing kick-off and charged 60m upfield in that runaway bullock way of his before finding O’Sullivan for his first try. His second came after 30 minutes, followed smartly by three more tries to Towers, Waho and Loomans to set up a 42-0 halftime score.
A three-try blitz kicked off the second half, Sasalu picking up his double and O’Sullivan his hat-trick within five minutes. In the blink of an eye, the 42 points became 63 and the hosts were left chasing the shadows of the visitors backs.
Kay scored his try soon after and the substitutions came on mass from there, causing the game to lose a little shape and structure before Tai-Rakana picked up his try for a 77-0 scoreline.
The hosts finally found some joy with a nice grubber and collect try, then watched as Clark Towers scored and Waho crossed for his second, before having the final say with a try on fulltime.
For Sports, it was an outstanding all round effort, built from the forwards asserting themselves in tight, allowing the speed and precision of the backs to wreak havoc. O’Sullivan and fellow lock Thomas Brown ruled supreme in the lineouts and hard running No.8 Sasalu brought his usual physicality which had the hosts on the back foot.
Outside backs Waho, Tairoa Crean and Karl ran riot in the space created by midfielders Caleb Loomans and Awa Morris, while McNeil was dynamic around the fringes.
Te Awamutu Sports Senior B also picked up their second consecutive win to stay unbeaten in the championship round, downing Puta¯ ruru 31-10.
Sports are at home this Saturday hosting Leamington when they will officially celebrate Simon Kay’s milestone.