Missed opportunities prove costly
Melville loss dents Te Awamutu Sports premier prospects
The Ecolab Te Awamutu Sports Premier side will kick themselves for letting a chance to keep pace with the top three teams slip through their fingers, going down 14-15 to a spirited Melville Rugby Football Club side in front of a raucous crowd at Collins Road.
It was a game where Sports had their opportunities, and controlled more of the possession, but were guilty of giving too much ball back to the hosts through kicking, mistakes and turnovers.
After an early flurry from the visitors, Melville took control and after absorbing almost 20 minutes of pressure on their line, the Sports line finally broke and let in their first score, followed quickly by the second for an early 10-point lead.
Sports went close when loose forward Niah ChurchJones took the ball from the boot of the scrum and crossed the line but was held up.
That was as close as Te Awamutu got to scoring, turning down an easy three points only to be held out again to trail 10-0 at the break.
The second half continued in much the same vein. The hosts extended their lead at the 52-minute mark to 15 points and rode the swell of a packed house.
It seemed the more Sports pushed, the deeper the hole they dug themselves.
That all changed with 15 minutes to go. Sports finally found some con
tinuity with the ball in hand and lifted the tempo. They had the hosts on their heels and laid siege on the Melville line.
Replacement prop Tom Woelders seemingly scored, also only to be held up.
Te Awamutu were finally rewarded when Church-Jones again crossed in the corner, only to be hit high and pulled into touch, resulting in a penalty try.
Sensing an opening in the closing minutes, Sports went up a gear and struck again three minutes later when J’ndre Liebenberg was too strong down the short side.
Martin converted from wide to set
up a wild last few minutes, where Melville’s desperation to hold their line and secure their first win of the season held firm.
Winger Zealin Prime was impressive for Sports. He was dangerous out wide then organised well to close the game when he moved to halfback, earning man of the match honours.
TRIES: Penalty try, J’ndre Liebenberg.
GOALS: Dillon Martin - 1/1 (1 conversion)
MVP Points 3: Zealin Prime, 2: Tevita Toli, 1: Logan Karl.
Ecolab Premier Development
In a seemingly recurring trend, the Ecolab Te Awamutu Sports Premier Development side followed similar waters to the Premier side, guilty of
giving away too much ball, dropping their second on the trot to Melville 22-10 at Collins Road.
Further to that, they got caught trying to beat Melville at their own game.
The visitors tried to bulldoze through the massive Melville pack, rather than stretching them out wide, and were met with a ferocious defensive line that repelled attack after attack.
A conservative first half from both sides was opened with a Melville penalty goal.
Answered by Te Awamutu fullback Marage Wanstall, it became a 3-3 deadlock after 10 minutes.
Melville kicked ahead at the 25-minute mark with a try, but the
score remained 8-3 at the break.
They extended at the 58-minute mark with another score and held their own line firm until the 73rd minute, when replacement prop Cameron Maake dived over from close range.
Replacement George Poolman’s conversion closed the gap to five points with five to play.
Melville’s line held firm as Te Awamutu attacked in their quarter, only to turn the ball over.
The hosts went the length of the field in reply and scored in the closing second to deny Sports a bonus point. TRIES: Cameron Maake. GOALS: Marage Wanstall 1/1 (1 penalty), George Poolman 1/1 (1 conversion).