Surf rolls in and swamps Frankton
Southern United has kick-started its 2014 rugby campaign in style with both senior sides earning away wins against Frankton in Hamilton at the weekend.
The senior A team proved too strong for their counterparts with a clinical performance which saw them run in nine tries to claim a 59-0 victory in the Waikato Division 1 rugby competition.
Led by captain Doug Kotuhi, Surf seized control from the outset and within four minutes were on the board after some excellent continuity between forwards and backs in the lead up which saw lock Henry Young lunge out for the opening points.
Soon after the visitors were in again with blindside flanker Warwick Taylor dotting down as the contest began to heat up with both teams laying on some fierce tackles.
Despite Frankton’s attempts to halt Southern’s momentum, the side maintained their composure and resulted in the trio of Zane Costar, James Sutherland and Sonny Goodnight all scoring tries to provide a handy 35-0 lead at the break.
It was more of the same in the second spell for Surf as a Frankton turnover deep in their half saw Jamin Pinkerton rewarded with a try for his hard running efforts throughout the match.
With a number of fresh faces in the club this season, centre Rudi Redeling was one of many standout performers, slicing through the defence on his way to score a try in his first outing in Surf colours.
Taylor and Young capped off the win grabbing their second tries and rounding off a superb result to start the season.
Meanwhile the senior Bs completed the club sweep earlier in the day, holding on for a tough 34-25 result in a see-saw battle.
A first-half try to centre Tava Loumoli saw Surf go into halftime with a slim 10-6 advantage.
But the second 40 minutes saw the game open up as both teams traded tries that saw Matt Lee, James Foster, Hamuera Pene and teenager Taina Nicholas scoring five-pointers in the win.
The club will now look ahead as it prepares to host nearby rivals Putaruru in a local showdown this weekend in what is sure to be an intense battle with games kicking off at 1pm.