Levien hat-trick hero
Hamilton Marist have continued their perfect start to the Waikato club rugby premiership, with a fourth bonus-point win from as many starts.
Waikato halfback Harrison Levien had a great return to rugby, scoring a hat-trick to help his team to a 44-14 victory at home against Fraser Tech on Saturday.
He was helped largely by his forwards, who made things difficult for Tech all game by constantly beating them to the breakdown and stealing ball, and in the end it turned into an eight tries to two demolition.
Marist got the first points when centre Bailyn Sullivan threw a dummy to his numbers out wide and stepped inside Tech’s scrambling cover defence to score.
No 8 Zane Kapeli kept momentum rolling for Marist with a surging run out wide and after some great inter-passing between the forwards he ended the play with another try.
Christian Kelleher then glided through a gap untouched to score from close range, and moments before the break Levien dived over for his first on the back of some good forward play.
At 22-0 down starting the second half, Fraser Tech needed something to spark if they were to remain in premiership semifinal contention, having failed to win a game so far this season.
But again they found themselves under pressure very early on, first having a lineout ball stolen and then getting penalised for being offside.
Marist booted the ball into touch, won the lineout and Marist captain Sam Vea scored off yet another pick and drive close to the line.
It then soon blew out to 32-0 when Levien caught the Tech forwards napping again, diving down low from the base of a ruck to score his second.
Tech weren’t done though. With the scoreline escalating, they mounted a comeback and finally went on an extended period of attack.
Their forwards clawed their way back into the contest by running hard and constantly breaking first-up tackles from Marist’s overzealous defence.
They also exposed a weakness in Marist’s scrum and began to dismantle them - driving them backwards until their front row would collapse.
One of those collapses resulted in a penalty try being awarded to Tech late in the half, and moments later Marist prop Lio Taukeiaho was yellow carded for more scrum issues.
But Tech couldn’t capitalise. Fullback Liam Coombes-Fabling made a break, but threw the ball infield to Marist, which ended with Levien running 30 metres to dot down for his hat-trick.
Alex Suttie replied with a try for Tech, but it was too late for them to even get a bonus point, and Marist reserve Brad Hills scored a try at the death to blow the score out.
It means that Marist remain on top of the premiership table, while Tech are highly unlikely to be involved in the finals after their loss.
Meanwhile, at Fred Jones Park, Otorohanga got a huge first win of the season over the previously unbeaten Hamilton Old Boys, squeaking home 27-26 and putting them right in the playoff picture.
Melville continued their winning ways, beating United Matamata Sports 24-10 and getting the bonus point to leap Hautapu into third spot.
Hautapu remain in the top four, but did it tough over University, beating them 16-13 in Cambridge.