Marist retain their spot at top of the table
Placings in the top four have changed after the weekend’s games, Evan Pegden reports.
Waikato premier club rugby’s top four changed yet again at the weekend and defending champions Fraser-tech edged one point closer to unbeaten Haswell Catley Trophy leaders Hamilton Marist.
Lodge City Rentals Marist comfortably chalked up their second win of the season over OTC Otorohanga, this time in Hamilton to the tune of 31-8 on Saturday for their ninth win of the year to go with their two draws.
That had the net effect of keeping Marist comfortably atop the charts and knocking Otorohanga out of the top four, replaced by APL Direct Hautapu, who return to the potential playoff group courtesy of a 49-12 away win over bottom side Mcpherson Contractors Hinuera in which Chiefs flanker Scott Waldrom scored a hat-trick of tries.
Meanwhile second-placed Shenanigans Fraser-tech turned the tables on Ecolab Te Awamutu Sports, who had beaten them in the season opener, with a decisive 34-12 home victory and bonus point getting them within five points of Marist who did not manage a fourth try against Otorohanga.
CBD Hamilton Old Boys also made certain of a bonus point in their 43-19 away win over University, scoring six tries, and are solidly set in third, just three points behind Tech and two ahead of Hautapu.
The upset of week 11 was the 23-13 win by Nottingham Castle Morrinsville Sports over TDO Melville in Hamilton, fuelled by the presence of Chiefs squad members Alex Bradley and Brendon Leonard in the Morrinsville lineup. Fraser-tech ............................... 34 Te Awamutu Sports .................. 12 Tech won this by five tries to two but that doesn’t tell the tale of a much more willing contest than that at Elliott Park with the home side not taking control until the second spell.
Te Awamutu had much the better of the territorial battle in the first spell and a good flow of lineout possession as a result as Tech fell into the trap of trying to play too much rugby in their own half, but they lacked both a goal-kicker or the penetration of a solid defensive line to ram the advantage home on the scoreboard.
With Nathan George held out of the game by Waikato for medical reasons, second-five Leon Emery started as goalkicker and missed three medium to short-range penalty shots and then firstfive Waylon Tangohau missed the conversion when standout No 8 and skipper Jono Armstrong finally burst through the defence after a midfield bust by Semisi Fotu.
Tech led 10-5 at halftime thanks to a try to centre Jimmy Horsford, running off an initial break from first-five Sam Christie and a conversion and penalty from Christie. But in the second half the home side played much more in the attacking half, brought their big ballrunning forwards into the game much more with a direct approach.
Winger Matt Kenny scored off the shoulder of standout flanker Joe Scheres, who made the bust and six minutes later scored from an irresistible lineout drive, while Horsford got his second from a Christie Wipers kick to bring up the bonus point and make the lead 29-5 after 54 minutes.
That was the winning of the game and while prop Keiran Ramage got a consolation pick-and-go try, which Tangohau converted, Tech kept attacking the visitors’ line and right on fulltime replacement back Shaun O’connor scored off a break by replacement halfback Daniel Teka. Hamilton Marist ....................... 31 Otorohanga ................................. 8 Hamilton Marist produced the sounder team effort, more flair on attack as well as a more efficient defensive screen in outplaying Otorohanga at Marist Park, John Holt writes.
Both teams had a fair share of clean possession, but building on another fine effort from Wharenui Hawera, surely one of the better goalkicking No 10s in the competition, Marist were generally in better position to attack and outscored the visiting side three tries to one.
In the absence of Marty Holah, away on holiday, open-side flanker Josaan Levien was in outstanding form for Marist, running with the ball in hand or foraging for possession in the tight stuff, and scored two of his side’s tries.
Wing Niko Malo scored the third after joining the backline at pace and slicing through to score unopposed near the goal posts.
Otorohanga battled away but made little progress against a resolute Marist defence, Sean Wanden crashing over to score the side’s sole try on the knell of halftime after a series of forward drives at the Marist goal line. Ahead 20-8 at halftime, Marist was always in charge. Hamilton Old Boys.................... 43 University.................................. 19 Hamilton Old Boys enjoyed the comfort of playing in front after converting pressure into early points, halfback Troy Lobendahn never scoring an easier try than the one he got from an untidy lineout to open the account, Anthony Momoemausu reports.
Not to be outdone, University replied in spectacular fashion when Kelly Anderson fended off a defender to set up a try to Trent Renata.
Anderson then managed a try of his own but from the ensuing kickoff Old Boys wrestled away any momentum the students had with a try to centre Chris Croasdale.
Renata showed his class with a brilliant counter-attacking break as he sent Steven Cullingworth down the sideline to close the gap.
Unfortunately, that was the final scoring act by the hosts as the Old Boys forwards gained ascendancy over their counterparts in the set-piece and around the park.
University’s lack of discipline began to cause problems, providing the visitors with field position to launch their attack where Croasdale bagged his second try as the red and blacks secured the competition points. Hautapu..................................... 49 Hinuera ..................................... 12 Hautapu were clinical for the first quarter of this match, getting to 21-0 within 15 minutes and 28-0 after 19, but from there this match at Wealleans Park disintegrated into a messy affair.
Up front, Waldrom was the star with his three tries, while lock Kent Fife had a storming game. In the backs, halfback Ruan du Plooy was again impressive and in-form winger Ethan Pollock again ran strongly but this was not a great match.
Hautapu led 28-5 at halftime and got another three converted tries in the second half, Josh Blue managing to convert all seven touchdowns in the match.
Hinuera battled away wholeheartedly with their best player being first-five Benji Olesen who scored all his team’s points with two tries and a conversion. Morrinsville Sports .................. 23 Melville ..................................... 13 This was a closely fought, if stop-start, encounter at Collins Rd but it was the battle of the loose that was won decisively by Morrinsville, led by standout No 8 Bradley, who scored one of his team’s two tries.
He and openside flanker Shaun Peek, who won the team’s own player of the day award, combined effectively to give the visitors the edge in that department.
There was a greater hunger for victory about the Morrinsville performance that got them over the line, while on the scoreboard it was just goalkicking that separated the two sides with each scoring two tries.
Behind the pack, halfback Leonard’s quick clearance of the ball gave the Morrinsville attacks impetus.
Once again No 8 Jake Ale produced a strong game for Melville, with young prop Joe Walsh also impressive.