Rhinos give Magpies second-half trampling

A 50-point second half from the Tainui Rhinos set up their second win of the rugby league season.

In the battle of the two bottom sides, Tainui beat the Ohakea Magpies 70-20 at the Air Force base on Saturday, just the second win for the new club.

The game was tight in the first half and it was still in the balance with Tainui up 26-20 at halftime. But Ohakea ran out of puff and dropped off, while the young Tainui team powered through them. Tainui made a couple of early second-half breaks with their strong ball carriers and Ohakea weren’t in the contest after that as Tainui kept running through them.

It was the last game for Ohakea standoff Daz Pullen, who is moving to Taranaki. Pullen had a good game directing the team around and worked hard on attack and defence. Centre Aled Poole also had a good game for Ohakea. It is the end of the season now for Ohakea, who have the bye in the final round next week and are out of contention for the semifinals.

In the other game,

gave the a physical test in Kia Ora’s 54-4 win at Fitzherbert Park. The opening 20 minutes were a tight battle and Boxon scored first to give the competition leaders a scare. But after that Kia Ora’s defence held strong and their fitter forwards

Whanganui Boxon Ora Warriors Kia

got on top of Boxon.

It was 22-4 at halftime. Lock Zane Warbrick had a great game in the middle of the park, taking on the physical Boxon forwards.

Centre Awatere Kiwara cut Whanganui up, scoring a hattrick, while second rower Johnny Kerrisk grabbed a double. Prop Wesley Veikoso and hooker Hitaua Butler played well, too.

Points: Kia Ora Warriors 10, Linton Cobras, Whanganui Boxon, Tainui Rhinos all 4, Ohakea Magpies 0.