STUFF TASMAN TROPHY WEEK ONE RECAP
Three comfortable wins and one heart-stopping draw featured on the opening weekend of the newlynamed Stuff Tasman Trophy Club Rugby competition, played in challenging conditions across the region on Saturday.
In the Match of the Round, a Central try right on fulltime saw them share the points with Wanderers at Brightwater 19-19.
Central had the best of the first half, leading 12-7 playing into the wind with the slow starts that dogged Wanderers over their pre-season playing its part on Saturday. However they worked their way into the game to lead 19-12 all the way into the 80th minute.
After spending most of the final ten minutes on attack, Central finally got rewarded with winger Solomon Vecena crashing over from close range near the posts with the successful conversion the final act of a hard-fought encounter.
Central coach Dave McCormick felt it was a fair result.
“It was a pretty physical start to the season. We played well into the wind in the first half and I said at halftime it’s important for us to make sure we don’t think the wind would win it for us but we took the foot off the throat I think and Wanderers are a good side. They defended really well and they’ve come a long way over the last few weeks,” McCormick said. Whilst disappointed to give up the late try, Wanderers’ coach Glenn Grant was pleased with the first up effort from his side, which marked its return to the competition after being unable to field a team last season.
“We are a new team and we’ve looked to get guys who will be around for a few years. We have come together nicely over the last few months and there is a really good feeling in the camp so I was pleased with the first-up effort,” Grant said.
For Wanderers lock Josh Moorehouse put in a total 80-minute effort of hard work while loose forward Chris Halaufia also carried a big workload and centre Apetone Vaka looked dangerous whenever he had the ball. Central’s Jack Powell impressed in his Tasman Trophy debut for the club while Jessie MacDonald and Matthew McCormack got through a power of work and winger Tomoci Tavatavanawai showed the benefits of his time in the Crusaders’ system this year. The other three matches were far more clear cut. Waimea Old Boys had the largest win of opening weekend, dominating Awatere/Moutere, scoring nine tries to two in an emphatic 55-14 victory at Seddon Domain. Coach Scott McKenzie felt his side played well after a patchy start. “It took us 15 minutes to get going but once we got into the game we kicked into life. We are a bit underdone compared to the other teams after a lighter pre-season but it was a good start and I reckon we’ll be there or thereabouts deep into the season,” he said.
Winger Caleb Coventry was named player of the match and was pure class while centre Erenimo Tau scored two tries and handed off what would have been two more. Number Eight Chris Mason also impressed with his strong tackling and work at the breakdown.
Elsewhere, Stoke opened its account with a 30-13 victory on the road at Renwick. After being locked together at 13-all at halftime, Stoke scored 17 unanswered points in the second half to bank a bonus point victory.
Coach Brad Allam was happy with his side’s strong finish.
“There is a lot of confidence in our squad this year in our ability to finish strong with the power we have coming off our bench. It wasn’t a day for running rugby so we narrowed our game down and that suited our pack and we just wore them down in the second half,” Allam said.
First five-eighth Corey McKay managed the game well while the Veamatahau twins, Asher and Amanaki and Taine Robinson brought some real punch to the backline on a tough day. But the winning of the game was upfront, with Antonio Shalfoon leading his pack
around the park along with a dominant performance from the Stoke front row with Matt Graham-Williams, Lachie Doyle and Blair Pirnsep all adding impact off the bench to an already powerful Stoke scrum. Marist proved too much for Waitoki, winning in style 41-10 while Nelson and Kahurangi both had byes. This Saturday Nelson opens its season on Trafalgar Park against Awatere/Moutere, Waimea Old Boys host Renwick, Central face Kahurangi while Wanderers head to Waitohi. Marist and Stoke both have byes.
Scores:
Wanderers 19 drew with Central 19
(Tries: Braden Stewart, Jesse MacDonald, Solomon Vecena; Con (2) Mitch Smith). Waimea Old Boys 55 def Awatere/Moutere 14 (Tries: Tristan Taylor, Henry Ryan; Con (2): Ben Finau) Marist 41 (Tries: Leopino Maupese (2), Hopoate Taufa, Nikola Vikena, Te Puoho Stephens, Cleve Barrell; Con (3): Briggs) def Waitohi 10 (Tries: Seymour Lambert, Tiare Tautari)
Stoke 30 (Tries: Naki Vaematahau (2), Kendall Hodson, Fergus Hughes; Con (2) & Pen (2): Corey McKay) def Renwick 13 (Try: Jayden Lister; Con & Pen (2): Kurt Schollum)
Points:
Waimea Old Boys 5, Marist 5, Stoke 5, Wanderers 2, Central 2, Kahurangi 0, Nelson 0, Awatatere/Moutere 0.