Rams make heavy weather of win
A comfortable bonus point win over Parematta-Plimmerton kept Upper Hutt on the early Swindale Shield pace but the Rams will need to put a distracted secondhalf performance behind them when they meet an also unbeaten Hutt Old Boys Marist on Saturday.
Upper Hutt scored four first half tries at Ngatitoa Domain and when Jordan Simpson-Hefft dotted down for his second try after the break for a 34-5 lead it was all going to plan.
From there Upper Hutt lost their way. They gave up 17 points to the ‘‘easy beat’’ newcomers with only a late Sam Wasley try, also his second, stemming the scoreline damage and the game’s increasing torpor.
The scoring did go to the team playing with the day’s big wind but Upper Hutt’s troubles were made of more than the conditions.
The accuracy in the backs went badly awry, demonstrated no better than when a lazy slap back of an already dropped ball give up a runaway seven-pointer.
Upper Hutt’s forwards were too loose too often, especially after the lock Aiden Woodward was injured early in the second half and a raft of substitutes were run on.
Despite the deckchairs being shuffled around them the loose forwards Josh Hunt, Wasley and Josh Blackwell continued their good form and combination. Wasley is young and physical but the day’s honours went to Hunt for his deft running and linking all game.
At fullback Simpson-Hefft scored 21 points to top 50 in just three games and Hayden Schrijvers was busy until subbed in the third quarter.
As always a disappointing dress rehearsal may prove no bad thing but Saturday’s game at Maidstone Park is of huge importance to the Rams’ shield campaign and they will be under big pressure to get it right.
The Upper Hutt Rams play HOBM at Maidstone Park on Saturday (2.30pm). UH Rams premier reserves play HOBM in the early game (12.45pm)