Hamilton impressive in Stan Meads Cup opener
15th August 2011 09:39AM
By Hamish Forsman
Hamilton's senior representative rugby side started their Stan Meads Cup campaign with a convincing 57-25 win over Central Bay of Plenty in Rotorua.
The Stan Meads Cup, featuring Hamilton, Central Bay of Plenty, Te Awamutu, King Country B and Thames Valley B, will be played over the next month as a round-robin competition. Also up for grabs is the Peace Cup, currently held by Te Awamutu, which will be on the line at the holders' home games.
There were encouraging signs for Hamilton in their opening round match on Saturday with halfback Matt Cameron linking well with first-five Kane Adams and doing a good job organising the forwards, while their exciting backline showed glimpses of pace and flair as they took a maximum five points from the match, running in eight tries including four to wing Matt Kenny.
The visitors started the game brightly when prop Loni Uhila broke out from a maul to score under the posts.
Adams kicked the conversion and then added a penalty kick shortly after before Central Bay took advantage of some indifferent Hamilton defence to post two penalty kicks and a converted try to take the lead.
Just before halftime Hamilton were finally able to put together some backline moves, and both wings Kenny and Frank Halai touched down out wide with Adams converting both to establish a lead of 24-13 at the break.
The second half saw the Hamilton forwards take over, led by lock Peni Iowane, loose forward Josh Tyrell and No 8 Ricky Fluhler.
Waikato ITM Cup squad member Rena Schuster was influential at centre as the game began to open up and a three-try burst from Schuster, Kenny and front rower Thomas de Malmanche blew the lead out to 43-13.
Hamilton eased off, allowing Central Bay to score a couple of soft tries, but they finished well with Kenny's pace and deception bagging him two further tries to complete the scoring.
Hamilton coach Basil Lennan was pleased with his side's first-up effort.
"I'm pretty happy with how the team has come together to be honest," said Lennan.
"It was very good for our first hitout and considering we have had just one training run together.
"When we committed them in close we were able to move the ball out wide which is when we looked dangerous. There was a bit of rustiness and we let in a couple of soft tries, but when we stuck to our structures we played well."
In the round's other match King Country B beat Thames Valley B 24-14, while Te Awamutu had the bye.
