Fired-up Stags make flying start to season
Katikati Stags Senior Rugby side kick-started their 2022 Western BOP competition campaign in the best of starts, defeating last year’s finalists Te Puna Sports.
The Stags came out onto Moore Park firing on all cylinders and were first on the board through the boot of Gene Darvill leading 3-0 after 10 minutes.
Te Puna were next on the board breaking the Stags defence to go up 3-7, then just before halftime debutant winger Zach Arundel was given room to move and scored an outstanding try in the grandstand corner that Gene Darvill added to with the conversion.
The Stags went into the break up 10-7.
A couple of position changes at the break and the Stags fired once again scoring a couple of early tries through lock Reardon Ewens-Bettridge then open side flanker & skipper Louie Darvill to see the Stags out to a handy lead of 22-7.
With 10 minutes left on the clock and the Stags lapping up territory advantage, reserve winger Viliame Hopoate muscled his way over into the far corner to give the Stags the bonus point. Te Puna finished the game with a try and a conversion. The Stags start with a 29-14 victory.
Players to stand out for the Stags in the backs: halfback Harry Thornhill and first-five Gene Darvill linked and controlled the game well, Thornhill sniped and box kicked well from the base. Viliame Hopoate showed some signs of things to come when he came onto the wing in the second half and young Zach Arundel had an outstanding game both on defence and in attack.
No. 8 Chris Bell-Fleming was the pick of the forwards and was well supported by skipper Louie Darvill. Veteran props Heremaia Murray and Peter Pole toiled away hard all game.
Bell-Fleming picked man of the match.
On Saturday the team will be back at Moore Park taking on Papamoa, kick-off at 2.45pm.
Katikati Stags point scorers: Tries: Z. Arundel, R. EwensBettridge, L. Darvill & V. Hopoate. Penalties: G. Darvill x1 Conversions: G. Darvill x3