Matamata Chronicle

Top results for college rugby

- DARYL BENNISON

The rugby season has been going well for Matamata College teams, with the three junior teams leading their divisions and the COMAG 1st XV remaining in the top four of the Waikato/Counties Premier Competitio­n.

The COMAG 1st XV was at home against Rosehill 1st XV on Saturday and came away with a come-from-behind 23 to 22 win. Matamata was able to string long phases of play together early in the game, but was unable to cross Rosehill’s line.

Two Kieran Holdsworth penalties were all Matamata could manage after 60 minutes of play and the team was found trailing by 22 points to 6.

With Matamata hard on defence, the players sent the ball wide and Jake Roa was able to cut the Rosehill defence to sheds, sprinting the length of the field to score under the posts.

Holdsworth converted and soon after added a penalty, closing the gap to 22 points to 16. With two minutes to play, lock Tom Conner made a break out wide and showed his pace to race down the side line to score a try.

Holdsworth converted from out wide to give Matamata the lead by one point, making the final score 23-22.

The 2nd XV travelled to Hamilton Boys’ and narrowly lost 22 to 15. Caleb Ogilvy and Matt Jeffcoat were the best of the forwards with some strong runs. Jayden Todd also had a good game in the backs.

The under 15 team kept its unbeaten run in tack, beating Putaruru by 35 to nil. Try scorers were Tai Leaf (2), Gareth Watkins (2), Dion O’Leary, John Couch and Ethan Nesbit.

The under 65kg team sit on the top of the table in their division, beating Hillcrest by a mammoth 162 to nil.

The under 14 team didn’t have a game on the weekend, but also lead their division.

Last week they played HBHS, winning by 34 – 22. Kadaphi King scored three tries from halfback, first-five Matt O’Brien scored two and Iraia Shelford scored one. It was a good fight back after being down at half time, especially by the forwards who all played well.

Draw for July 9, 2016:

COMAG 1st XV vs Manurewa 1st XV (away) 2nd XV vs Melville 1st XV, 11am Under 15 vs Hillcrest, 9.30am Under 65kg vs St Pauls, 10.40am Under 14 vs vs Te Awamutu (away)

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