Waikato boost past Turbos
Picksters:
The bizarre 2022 Bunnings Warehouse NPC competition continues with several upsets in round four - Waikato are still the only team left unbeaten.
Nic&me are now on top of the Picksters standings, taking the lead outright.
HTSL Diesel Mechanical drop to second and are placed equally with McDonald’s Te Awamutu.
Power Chill now sit equal with PGG Wrightson while NZME rounds off the Picksters.
It’s still a tight contest with each placing only one point behind the previous.
There is still time to grab your spot in the competition, if you and/or your business are interested in advertising and taking part weekly, email marissa.morris@nzme.co.nz. Let’s go Waikato! Picksters: You have one joker to play anytime during the competition and if we don’t get your picks on time, we’ll select the home teams on your behalf! Team:
Waikato remain undefeated in the Bunnings NPC after recording a massive bonus point 53-6 victory over Manawatu¯ Turbos at FMG Stadium Waikato in round four.
Damian McKenzie opened the scoring six minutes into the match when he was successful with a penalty shot at goal after Manawatu¯ Turbos were penalised for being offside. But seven minutes later Brett Cameron drew the game level with a successful penalty.
Winger Daniel Sinkinson scored the first try of the evening after he picked up a wayward knock back from the Turbos to sprint away untouched to score. McKenzie was unsuccessful with the conversion.
Cameron was again successful with a penalty shot at goal as Waikato were again penalised for being offside. His successful penalty saw the visitors trail by two points with 25 minutes gone on the clock.
With 10 minutes remaining before half-time Liam Coombes-Fabling scored the second try for the Mooloo men.
McKenzie was successful with the kick but the try gave Waikato a nine-point lead.
There was no change to the score and Waikato led 15-6 at the break.
In the second half it was all Waikato as they held the visitors scoreless while scoring six tries.
The first came through McKenzie after he danced his way through the defence to score. He converted his own try after bouncing it off the posts to push Waikato’s lead to 16 points.
Luke Jacobson scored the bonus-point-try nine minutes later when he took the ball from the back of a dominant scrum to spin and score. McKenzie was unsuccessful with the conversion.
Hooker Rhys Marshall was next to score when he found a gap in the Manawatu¯ defence to power through to score next to the posts. McKenzie added the extras and Waikato’s lead was extended to 28 points with 12 minutes remaining.
At the 71-minute mark Patrick McCurran popped a ball to Ollie Norris to put him into space. He then offloaded to Cortez Ratima who raced away to score under the posts.
Replacement Te Awamutu Sports’ Taha Kemara took over the kicking duties and scored his first points in Waikato colours.
Kemara then scored his first try for Waikato with two minutes remaining when he stepped his way through the Turbos’ defence. He converted his own try and Waikato led 48-6.
Sinkinson had the final say after the hooter when he scored his second try.
McKenzie put in a cross-field kick and Sinkinson collected the ball and ran 22m untouched to score in the corner.
Kemara this time was unsuccessful with the conversion but Waikato ended the match remaining as the final undefeated side in the competition.
Waikato 53 (Daniel Sinkinson 2, Liam CoombesFabling, Damian McKenzie, Luke Jacobson, Rhys Marshall, Cortez Ratima, Taha Kemara tries; Damian McKenzie 3 conversions 1 penalty, Taha Kemara 2 conversions)
Manawatu¯ Turbos 6 (Brett Cameron 2 penalties)
HT: 15-7