Chch on top with late win
Unbeaten Christchurch scored a last minute penalty try to pip Sydenham 35-28 in a top of the table clash in Canterbury Metro senior rugby on Saturday.
Both teams had won their first five games and the expected tight match lived up to the hype. In the dying minutes, Christchurch broke a 28-all draw when they were gifted a penalty try from referee Richard Gordon.
Although his side was on the right side of the decision, Christchurch coach Simon Kneebone said it was the correct call as the try was inevitable.
‘‘We are pleased we got the win, it looked as though he dived in from the side, so I think the penalty try was warranted. The referee did an outstanding job through the match.’’
Continuing the trend of slow starts and last minute wins, Kneebone was pleased his side had shown they can play to the final whistle and close out matches.
‘‘Sydenham-Christchurch matches are always fairly physical and brutal up front, so there will be some bruised bodies [the next few days].’’
With the win, Christchurch retain the DCL Shield and remain the only unbeaten side, giving Sydenham their first loss for the season.
The win gives Christchurch a two-point lead over Sydenham on the table. Hovering two points behind Sydenham are Hawkins Trophy title-holder Lincoln University and Hawkins Cup champion New Brighton.
Earlier in the game, Christchurch spent the majority of the first half in opposition territory with first-five Dan Dorgan kicking three penalties.
A charge down and retrieval by Sydenham lock Kalave Aualiitia set up a try for prop Ash Hyde, which first-five Kieran Lindsay converted. A try to Jimmy Lim, four minutes later, put Sydenham in front.
The Sydenham side came out strongly, running their big forward pack in attack and getting into space. Persistence paid off when Lindsay converted a penalty over the posts to give them a six point lead.
Christchurch came back through hooker Hamish Kilpatrick to close the gap to one at the break [15-14].
In the second half, Christchurch were able to score early when captain and lock William Mills grabbed a turnover and crashed over under the posts for Dorgan to convert. Lindsay was gifted a penalty shortly after for Sydenham.
Sydenham then enjoyed their best 20 minute surge of the game on attack, which led to a try for winger Amanaki Nicole in the corner.
The restart allowed Christchurch to occupy Sydenham’s half for the final 10 minutes. With seven minutes left, Christchurch were able to tie up the scores through replacement Harry Murray. Other matches: Lincoln University, with several key players back from national commitments, bounced back from its surprise loss to Linwood the previous week, scoring eight tries and posting 50 points on winless High School Old Boys.
Unlike Sydenham and HSOB, New Brighton celebrated its club day in style, racking up 42 points against Belfast.
University kept in touch with the leaders with its bonus point win against a Shirley side which did not play to its high standard of previous rounds.
It was a ragged match with the students occasionally showing their attacking flair and it saw the return from injury of Crusaders wing Jone Macilai [knee].
Burnside moved into the top six with its fourth win of the season. After leading Sumner by a point at halftime, Burnside kept the visitors scoreless in the second half and took advantage when Sumner first-five Nic Cummings was sin-binned for a no-arm tackle.
The game hung in the balance until the last quarter with Burnside taking 15-14 lead into halftime.
Sumner appeared to have wrestled the lead when wing Wes Mauafu dived over in the corner, only for the try to be disallowed and Burnside awarded a penalty for foul play at the scrum.
The first draw of the season was played out between Marist Albion and Linwood. Marist Albion was poised for its second win after leading 27-15 after 48 minutes, but Linwood finished the better and scored twice in the last three minutes.