Kurow’s good run continues with another upset win over Valley

KUROW, Athletic Marist and Old Boys won the first round of the knockout preview to the finals of the Citizens Shield in North Otago club rugby on Saturday.

Kurow, which had upset Old Boys in the competition the previous week, carried on its form when it beat the more favoured Valley 3631.

Athletic Marist was too strong for Excelsior, running out to a 4025 victory.

Old Boys dealt to Maheno 3819 to complete the qualifying round.

Kurow made its intentions early in the game, leading 2614 at halftime. It had led 197 midway through the half before

Valley’s Cameron Rowland closed the gap at halftime.

Prop Meli Kolinisau and Ben Paton got within eight points, 2921, and a Paton try and conversion reduced the gap to a solitary point, 2928.

Paton kicked a penalty to put Valley into a 3129 lead late in the game but Sam McDonald's try and conversion dragged Kurow out to a 3631 victory.

Athletic Marist was too strong for Excelsior in the second game, battling out to a 146 halftime lead and extending this to a 4025 fulltime lead.

A try to Athletic’s impressive first first fiveeighth Abel Magalogo extended the lead to 196 before replacement Sosaia Fonua crossed for an Excelsior try.

This pair swapped tries to take Athletic out to a 2618 lead.

Athletic lock Misinale Fifita extended the lead to 3318.

Replacement Taniela Halalilo’s try took Athletic out to 4018 before Excelsior’s Hamish Slater touched down to confirm the 4025 supremacy of Athletic.

Old Boys made no race of it with Maheno in the final game of the afternoon, coasting to a 3819 win.

Old Boys bolted out to a 267 advantage, and an unconverted try gave it a 317 halftime lead.

Old Boys maintained the pressure, and although Marcus Balchin and Forrest Beer touched down for Maheno, Old Boys deserved the 19point margin.