Strong COB hold out Varsity
Even a superlative performance by Varsity No 8 Micaiah Torrance-read was not enough to quell a strengthened College Old Boys at Massey University.
The lighter COB aggressively manned the trenches on Saturday to deservedly win 19-9, stopping Varsity even crossing the tryline, although Torrance-read was caught just short after another mighty stampede near the end.
A lock for the Turbos, he would be an option at No 8 for them if needed.
But almost everyone else in blue, even their giants, were decked by the slimline COB forwards, four of them flanker size.
They foraged voraciously at breakdowns in the second half even when Varsity commanded most of the ball and ground away with their hefty scrum.
Varsity’s backline had only wing Korie Winters lively on attack and their defence, badly missing injured midfielder Hamish Northcott, was breached too easily by Turbos Stewart Cruden, James Tofa and Andre Taylor to set up two early tries.
COB’S only failing was average line kicking.
COB coach Bryan Matenga said when he heard there had been a falling out at Feilding, where Taylor had been coaching, he invited him back to his old club as a player.
Turbo Johnny Galloway was big for COB in his comeback from injury, as was No 8 Hamuera Burn, lock Jared Goodson, flanker Elyjah Crosswell and a vocal tight head prop, Benjamin Butler, who commutes from Porirua.
Frontrowers Flyn Yates and Nick Grogan and flanker Joe Tako toiled in vain for Varsity.
Feilding Yellows have temporarily lost Turbos prop Tietie Tuimauga with a fractured hand, an old injury, but still rolled past Kia Toa 34-13 at Bill Brown Park, Palmerston North.
Kias sounded the alarm by snatching a 10-0 lead after 15 minutes and their first two scrums alarmed Yellows.
Although Kias competed well in lineouts and scrums and never gave up, they appeared to be caught in the headlights against the Hankins Shield champions and were heavily caned at the breakdowns.
Feilding took almost every chance, turning them into five tries. Where their backs ran with punch, and directly, Kias were lateral and did not score a point in the second spell.
Their best were lightweight loose forwards Mackenzie Tansley and Preston SmithOwen.
Turbos Drew Wild, Ben Wyness and replacement halfback Griffin Culver dictated play for the unbeaten Yellows.
Next week against Varsity they will get back Hurricanes under-20 players Kyle Brown and TK Howden as well as Brad Carr.
Te Kawau were held to a draw for the second week in a row and were frustrated at letting a win slip away.
The Real Blokes drew 27-all with Feilding Old Boys-o¯roua at Rongotea, a week after drawing with Old Boys-marist.
This week Te Kawau had been leading 27-19 with 10 minutes to go but midfielder Kameli Kuruyabaki was given a yellow card for a deliberate knock down when he was going for an intercept.
That gave Fob-o¯roua a penalty and then halfback Logan Henry scored an 80-metre try to lock up the scores but they could not land the conversion.
Neither team could score in the final few moments.
Earlier, Fob-o¯roua scored the first try but Te Kawau worked their way back into it to lead 24-12 at halftime.
Te Kawau were playing into the wind in the second spell but were pinged repeatedly at the breakdown, allowing Fob-o¯roua to set up camp in Te Kawau’s half.
Te Kawau only managed one penalty in the second half.
Kuruyabaki was great defensively for Te Kawau and prop Josh Greer was one of their star performers, as was young lock Hunter Morrison, who was called into the Hurricanes under20s last week.
Henry and fullback Layton Manuel were Fob-o¯roua’s biggest threats and prop Lucas Puts put in another solid 80 minutes.
The Stags lost first five-eighth Paora Rakatau to a knee hyper extension during the match.
Old Boys-marist fullback Ben Werthmuller cut loose as they put Freyberg to the sword 60-5 at the Arena, Palmerston North.
Werthmuller scored four tries in the big win, although they had to work hard for it against Freys.
OBM scored the first try but then spent the next 10 minutes on defence; but once their set piece got going, they started to break through the Freys defenders.
Mistakes and missed tackles cost Freyberg in the first spell and they trailed 30-5 at halftime.
Speedy Freyberg wing Varcon King scored another try, burning off defenders, but could have had three tries.
OBM first five-eighth Aidan Champion, back from the Hurricanes under-20s, pulled the strings and Werthmuller was punching into space.
Freyberg held them to 35-5 going into the last quarter but OBM blew the score out with some late tries.
New Manawatu¯ Turbos prop Harry Allen was strong again in his 40 minutes for OBM and will be allowed to play 60 next week.
Hooker Bryn Gordon did not play, due to a hip and groin niggle, but should be back next week.
No 8 Matene Ruawai had another strong game, halfback Hunter Waller made breaks off the bench and loose forward Liam Giltrap, who has not played for the past couple of seasons due to concussion, put in a solid 20 minutes off the bench.
For Freyberg, flanker Lawrence Liuvaie, back from suspension, and young lock Tiaho Taiaroa, were workhorses for Freyberg and veteran midfielder Lifeimi Mafi played well.
In the second round of the women’s competition, Feilding Old Boys-o¯roua had a big win over Whanganui Metro 65-10 at Johnston Park, Feilding.
Varsity also won comfortably, beating Bush 48-7 in Pahı¯atua.
Kia Toa had the bye.