Poor starts cost Timaru teams
Timaru Boys’ High School First XV and Roncalli Aoraki Combined XV have both started their UC Championship campaigns with disappointing losses.
Poor starts cost both sides dearly on Saturday but their coaches would have been impressed with much better second halves, where they both outscored their opponents.
A disciplined Christ’s College were up 28-0 against Timaru Boys’ at Alpine Energy Stadium at half time, with two of Christ’s College’s four converted tries coming in the final two minutes before the break.
Timaru Boys’ were too slow on defence and gifted Christ’s the ball and space at crucial moments. However, the home side rallied in the second half with two well taken tries to impressive replacement loose forward Sio Latu and wing Hugh Cameron but the damage had been done in the opening 35 minutes, with Timaru Boys’ eventually going down 28-10.
For Timaru Boys’, prop Alipate Leleonoa led the way with some strong runs and big defence.
The midfield combination of Tafu Tafunaina and captain Jacob McKinlay also impressed, with McKinlay stepping his way through on several occasions.
Roncalli-Aoraki Combined will also be rueing their slow start against Rangiora High School, down 19-0 at half time before climbing back into the game to get within seven points. Two late penalties however sealed a 25-12 win for the visitors.
A rugged Rangiora pack left Roncalli-Aoraki shellshocked early but to their credit they climbed back into the game.
For Roncalli-Aoraki blind side Mitch Walsh and first five Hayden Kerr scored tries with Kerr converting his own.
Loosehead Angus Jensen had a big game while open side Conor Foley-Smith was into everything. The best of the backs was captain and centre George Laing.
Defending champions Nelson College thrashed Mid Canterbury Combined 75-3 and will host Roncalli-Aoraki on Saturday in Nelson. Christchurch Boys’ High School also cruised past Lincoln Combined 62-5 so Timaru Boys’ will also have another tough challenge in Christchurch on Saturday.