Kia Ora make statement with big win

The Kia Ora Warriors produced a 40-point comeback to beat the Linton Cobras 40-12 as the Coast to Coast club rugby league competition resumed.

The clash between the two top Manawatu sides was probably to be closer, but the well-drilled Kia Ora team ran away with it in the second half at the army base on Saturday.

Linton were missing players for various reasons and only had one man on the bench, which took its toll.

Kia Ora didn’t start well, making mistakes and had a couple of tries disallowed, and were down 12-0 after the first 20 minutes. Kia Ora spent most of the first half defending, but scored a try before halftime to close the deficit to 12-4 at the break, then turned it on in the second spell.

Kia Ora team had most of the ball in the second half and started dominating in the forwards, with standout prop Te Huarahi Rask giving them go-forward ball up the middle, and their backs started making breaks out wide.

Pepa Moefili had a good game at hooker and Taylor Haimonayoung had another top day with the boot, kicking all his conversions except for one, which hit the post.

Linton’s best was prop Henning Peterson, who got them off to a good start with his runs, while try scorers Joseph Cantwell and Solomua Falemai played well and Leo Tanginoa controlled the ruck.

put in an impressive effort in routing New Plymouth club

108-4 in Wanganui. Western Suburbs, who were beaten 78-4 by the Coastal Cobras at Easter Weekend, don’t have the strongest squad and only had two reserves. By the end of the game they had none due to injury.

Boxon carved them up, particularly

Whanganui Boxon Tigers Western Suburbs

fullback Matty Rangi, who was running off halves Bernard Matthews and Haze Reweti, and Rangi scored six tries in the massive win.

Boxon led 60-0 at halftime before Western Suburbs put up some resistance after the break, then Boxon took control again.

New prop Joe Wilson had another strong game with his ball carries.

Hawke’s Bay team had their first win when they beat the 48-20 at Fitzherbert Park.

The had the bye, as did the other Taranaki team, the

Tainui Rhinos Bridge Pa Ohakea Magpies Coastal Cobras.