Edendale lock in final spot with win over Midlands

In the penultimate week of Southland’s division one club rugby round robin competition Wyndham beat Riversdale 32-3 and Edendale beat Midlands 34-17.

The game at Edendale was seen as a semifinal of some sort, as the loser is now out of contention for the final.

Edendale made a great start to the match with some outstanding ball movement between forwards an backs resulting in two converted tries.

Midlands fought back to make it 20-10 at half time.

Midlands scored a converted try soon after the resumption but Edendale kept applying pressure through their forwards and scored two more tries.

Edendale halfback Marcus Saunders was a standout performer with his accurate passing.

Openside Jimmy Sinclair impressed with his solid defence and also scored a stellar try.

Ziggy Marley played well in his 100th game at prop.

Jeremy McLeod converted all four of Edendale’s tries and added two penalty goals to showcase his worth with the boot.

Midlands coach Dayna Cunningham paid tribute to the victors.

‘‘They were very good, really smart. They moved ball in the first half and then they kicked to the corners in the second half. Our team also played well but buttoned off at key stages. The only gave us three or four opportunities and we didn’t take them all.’’

Midlands were without Stags flanker Tim Boys and lost fellow standout flanker Logan Jones just before half time with a head knock.

A comprehensive second half performance by Wyndham pushed their winning scoreline out to 32-3.

Riversdale played with majority of the ball in the first half but the Wyndham managed to lead 8-3 at the break.

Wyndham manager Mike Henderson said they improved as the game progressed.

‘‘Our own mistakes cost us points in first half, but we got our structure back in the second half and the forwards laid the platform for the backs to finish off.

‘‘Full credit to Riverdale who’s forwards hit us hard all day.’’

Midfielder Nick Herbert was man of the match. Blindside Jaden Walsh and prop Kirk Given were also instrumental in the victory.

Riversdale coach Garth Lindsay said Wyndham, deserved the victory.

‘‘We were competitive in the first half and should have converted our opportunities, but we were completely out-played in the second half and have no excuses.

‘‘That’s why Wyndham are at the top of the table and deserve to be there.’’

Riversdale’s best were hooker Cory Blakebourgh and No.8 Morgan Will, stand-in half back Callum Sinclair and winger Thomas McLean were the pick of the backs.

Waiau Star beat DrummondLimehills Star-24-5 in Tuatapere.

Waiau spokesman Blayne de Vries said it was a battle just putting a team on the field given their horror injury run of late.

‘‘We had 17 players stripped and a few of them were not fit for rugby. But defensively we showed a lot of heart and primarily took advantage of DLS errors.’’

‘‘Our defensive pressure and never give in attitude was the difference.

‘‘All 17 were strong for us, but Matthew Egerton at centre stood out as did usual halfback Liam Adams who scored a double on the wing before moving to flanker.

‘‘Kyle Lawson was also big on defence.’’

‘‘DLS would have been frustrated by their errors whenever they had us stretched they would cough up the ball.’’

de Vries said DLS halfback Jimmy Johnson was a continual threat around the ruck.

Waikaka have not fired up in this bottom four section, they were beaten at home for the second week in a row, this time by Te Anau 34-19.

There will be little more than pride to play for when the division one teams line up this Saturday as the curtain comes down on the 2017 division one regular season.

In top four action Riversdale will host Edendale, while Wyndham and Midlands will met at Wyndham.

In the bottom four play Drummond-Limess-Star and Waikaka are scheduled to squareoff at Limehills on Friday night.

In the other game Te Anau will make the trip to Tuatapere to take on Waiau Star.