Pirongia go down fighting to Southern
The 2022 Waikato club rugby season got under way on Saturday with Pirongia taking on Southern United in a division 1 clash at Tokoroa Memorial Sports Ground.
The final score of 32-14 to Southern probably reflected the territorial advantage but not the effort Pirongia put in. They suffered somewhat in having only 11 fresh starters after a number of players helped out with the Bs in the earlier game. This told later in the game.
Southern scored early from a drive off a lineout to take a 5-0 lead after the conversion from wide out missed.
Then Pirongia were down to 14 players for 10 minutes as first five Jack Wade spent 10 minutes in the bin for an offside off a quick tap.
Pirongia worked their way upfield and, from a number of breakdowns close to the Southern line, prop Andy Fullerton burst through the middle to score adjacent to the posts.
Fullback Matt Lowe slotted an easy conversion to give Pirongia a 7-5 lead that held until halftime.
Southern scored two converted tries in the first 20 minutes of the second half to take the lead to 19-7 before replacement flanker Stan Rhind scored off a tap penalty. Lowe converted and reduced the margin to 19-14.
Pirongia were right in the game at that stage but some decisions that didn’t go their way around the breakdowns and sin bins for halfback Graham Wade and try-scorer Fullerton reduced Pirongia’s effectiveness. Southern managed a further converted try and two late penalties to take the win.
Pirongia tackled strongly all day and showed tremendous defensive resolution in holding the bigger Southern side.
Standouts for the visitors were
flanker/hooker Andrew Charleston, who made significant gains from strong ball carries, often regaining his feet and going again after being tackled.
The Pirongia front row of brothers Andy and Gordon Fullerton, playing their first competition game together after several years, with hooker Beau Jenkins toiled all day and stood up mightily to the big Tokoroa forwards.
Captain and No 8 Kayden Moorfield made several strong runs returning the ball from Southern kicks.
Standout among the backs was second five Dylan Hanning who always carried the ball hard and made plenty of metres.
Points for the day were awarded to: 3. Andrew Charleston, 2. Dylan Hanning, 1. Gordon Fullerton.