Early season quality and fitness issues

Rihopo Matiu dived over in the corner in the last minute of the closest contest from week 1 of the 2018 TRL series opener at Taheke.

Repo coach Lance Taylor noted his side had to play all of the first half with the bare 13 — car issues on the way to game prevented a couple of other players from arriving on time. Otherwise, it was a typical early season affair with quality and fitness issues to hopefully be ironed out as the season grinds into gear.

“Both sides were a bit raw .I don’t think either team was really interested in defence,” he said.

“Everyone got pretty tired on the old D.

“Game could have gone either way to be fair. We just need to lay some sort of platform and we will get some structure as the season goes on. [Saturday’s game] at least gives me something to work on.”

This match was the curtainraiser of the double header at Taheke.

Other results from Saturday were, United Valleys Crushers 34 Ngati Wai Seahawks 12: The Crushers claimed the spoils in the main event of the doubleheader at Taheke; Taniwha Ohaeawai 24 Waipapakauri Bombers 12: A good start for another one of the competition’s new teams at Ludbrook Park, and bye: Moerewa Tigers.