Defending champions open season with win
Defending champions New Plymouth Old Boys started the Taranaki premier club rugby competition the way they ended last season.
Old Boys used their physicality, especially in the second half, to dominate StratfordEltham and win 27-3 at Victoria Park in a repeat of last year’s grand final.
The match was expected to be hotly contested given last year’s thrilling extratime final, but it proved to be one-sided despite Old Boys having lost several players from last season.
In breezy and damp conditions on a redeveloped field the scores were locked up at 3-all after Old Boys captain Brayton Northcott-hill and Stratford-eltham’s Rocky Olsen exhanged penalty kicks.
However, Northcott-hill went onto to have a strong hand in the contest as he scored 17 points, through a try and 12 points off the tee. It was a contrast to the second half where Old Boys ran in three tries and spoilt any ball Stratford-eltham had, especially close to their line.
Old Boys had the edge at set piece with a powerful scrum but Stratford-eltham did hold its own as the match went on. Stratford-eltham coach Ross Williams was building his depth early in the season with nine debutants playing.
Elsewhere, Coastal’s strong first half performance propelled them to a 30-14 win against Tukapa on old timers’ day at Sanders Park.
The conditions suited Coastal after they were ahead 15-0 at the break and used their forwards to get quick ball out wide. They eventually scored four tries to two.
Tukapa scored an attractive try by new midfielder Waata Wharawhara from Matamata. Fullback Reegan Aarsen kicked the ball infield as he was running out of room down his touchline. It bounced into the in goal where Wharawhara was in the perfect position to dot down.
Chiefs U20 representative Hone Mathieson impressed at fullback for Coastal.
Southern beat Clifton 19-5 in difficult conditions at the Tikorangi Sports Ground.