New Cruden shapes victory
Stewart Cruden lived up to the family credentials with a commanding performance for unbeaten Manawatu¯ competition leaders College Old Boys.
He provided the steerage as COB dug in and came from 17-3 down to eclipse Feilding Old
Boys-o¯ roua 39-27 at the Arena, Palmerston North, on Friday.
Whenever Cruden, in his first season out of Palmerston North Boys’ High School, saw the ball, something was on.
He made sniping runs through vacant areas in the FOBO inside channel, kicked long and to ground and his wide balls to rapid wings Awatere Kiwara and Michael George outflanked the Stags.
On the hard ground, high kicks produced freakish bounces and freakish tries both ways.
However, FOBO had put huge work into their scrum after being pounded by Feilding and they had COB’S scrum feeling the heat.
Fullback Shaq Waara ghosted through to set up the easiest try at the start and with penalties galore, FOBO’S scrum set up two more. Their lineout with Hamish Bennett hurled aloft was also ascendant.
But two COB tries before halftime, one from another Cruden break, sounded the alarm and while FOBO scored twice in the second half, COB put their heads down in the pack and cruised home as the young Stags’ rearguard were shown up.
COB were also led by loosies Zane Te Rangi and Johnny Galloway snaring turnovers, lock Jared Goodson, halfback Michael Walsh and stand-in hooker Gene Syminton.
Turbo James Tofa was quiet. Stags halfback Tom Stewart kicked well to the corners and wing Ollie Brosnahan was again a handful, as was flanker Narsua Erasmus. Varsity turned out a blue riband XV to beat Kia Toa 43-22 at Massey University, Palmerston North.
The students had the bigger pack and a towering lineout of Tom Hughes, back with the
Stewart Cruden made sniping runs through vacant areas.
Turbos from Christchurch, promising lock Mickey Woolliams and tall Ian Burmeister at flank, which disrupted Kia’s setpieces.
Varsity scored seven tries to one, although it got tight when they were up 24-22 with 20 to play.
However, they were slick in the backs and added another 19 points. The Varsity scrum was dominant and former Turbos hooker Nick Grogan appeared for the final three minutes, but Varsity conceded too many penalties.
Their best were Woolliams, Hamish Northcott, prop Conor Mclean, who was outstanding, and wing Korie Winters.
Kia’s tackling let them down at times, but they did get in front at the start with an intercept try.
Their standouts were elusive fullback-first-five Jono Ihaka, No 8 Bethel Fauo´lo and prop Taumutu Afemui-nohotima.
They were without Braydon Iose and lost Jackson Iose to a worrying knee injury.
Linton Army not only fielded a team this week, but they came out hard and beat Freyberg 22-14 at Colquhoun Park, Palmerston North, coach Ben James coming on aged 40 at first-five after halftime and loving it, until he tore a bicep.
They still had talent such as halfback Tejay Oliver, Jaxon Tagavaitau, Tamatoa Ropati, for the final 20, and flanker Dom Broadhead capable of hurting a team such as Freys, and all three scored tries. Linton, though, had midfielder Sione Akau red-carded following two yellows with 30 minutes to play.
Freyberg started well, but lost their way and had to play catchup rugby, forcing passes.
Their scrum was strong, but not the lineout, as they prepare to face COB next week. Freyberg’s best were Iosefa Mataroa and Joshua Maoate in midfield, flanker Raki Fangatua and halfback Jacob Freeman-broderick.
The game had a lot of mistakes, penalties and missed tackles.
Neither coach was pleased as
Old Boys-marist downed Te Kawau 31-12 at the Arena. OBM’S Peter Kemp had lost four men from the previous game against COB, but had Matene Ruawai back and they posted five tries to two.
OBM’S set play was again strong, but they lost ball in the tackles. Their best were young wing Will Treder, flanker Jeremy Dobson again for his ballcarrying, first-five James Holland against his old club, and hooker Chris Cairns, playing his 50th.
OBM scored right at the start and had a second try after 15 minutes, with Te Kawau running out of defenders.
Te Kawau coach Joe Maoate had fixed the defence, but then they lost 20 turnovers and 18 tackles were missed.
They were missing Sam Stewart, in Southland for Easter, and first-five Ethan Woodmass, injured.
His best were No 8 Te Ahurere Albert, lock Matt Lyttle and hooker Richard Tennant and they did force a penalty try.