Morrinsville open up gap at top of premier table
29th June 2010 02:24PM
By EVAN PEGDEN - Waikato Times
But the battle among five teams for the remaining three semi-final spots remains intense with just two points separating them and the requirements of wet weather rugby altering the demands on teams.
While Wagon Wheel Bakery Morrinsville picked up their fourth straight victory and another bonus point with their 27-10 home win over OTC Otorohanga on Saturday to open up a six-point buffer at the top of the table, the action continues to be close and unpredictable below them.
Shenanigans Irish Pub Fraser-Tech tumbled from second to sixth spot on the strength of a 24-16 home defeat at the hands of Lodge City Rentals Hamilton Marist, albeit that it was played at the neutral venue of Hamilton Rugby Union's Stan Heather Park because of the Hamilton City Council closure of its grounds.
Marist are level with Tech on points but ahead of them on the table due to that victory and the who beat who tie-breaker rule.
CBD Hamilton Old Boys are now in second thanks to a 29-24 home win over Ecolab Te Awamutu Sports and on the strength of a better points differential than third-placed APL Hautapu, who they are yet to play but who had a 24-19 home victory over TDO Melville on Saturday.
Te Awamutu are fourth on 11 points one ahead of both Marist and Tech.
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Hamilton Marist 24
Fraser-Tech 16
Marist deserved this victory in the wet, scoring three tries to one and producing the better overall team performance, including defence and tactics, their key newcomers like Steven Setephano and Christian Lealiifano that much better for having had a game the previous week.
But Fraser-Tech will be kicking themselves for not kicking for goal.
With time up and a penalty in front of the Marist posts they opted for a fruitless quick tap rather than a kick at goal that would have at least allowed them an invaluable bonus point and elevated them on such a congested premiership ladder.
Considering first-five Sam Christie, one of their best players on the day, had kicked four out of five just to keep them in contention, it was obviously a rush of blood to the head by an individual player as cries of ''take the kick'' from the sideline went unheeded.
Special heroes for Marist were tight-head prop Lionel Wairau, who helped give the winners a scrummaging edge and ran powerfully for the opening try, Setephano and Jack Lam who ruled the breakdowns and the ruck fringes on attack and defence, the superior kicking game of first-five Joe Reynolds and inspirational counterattacking fullback Trent Renata, plus the powerful running of big wing Frank Halai for his two tries.
Team defence also got a big tick for Marist, who were often able to extricate themselves from some determined but impatient attack, while the kick-chase game of those in green and white was far superior to that of those in blue and white.
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Morrinsville Sports 27
Otorohanga 10
A hat-trick of tries to winger Ben Titoko summed up how much better the home side took their chances at Campbell Park.
Morrinsville were always in front after first-five Andre Wilson and Titoko both scored in the first 10 minutes, but the visitors did fight back strongly through the middle stages of the half before Titoko got his second try for a 20-5 half-time lead.
Otorohanga enjoyed a slight edge in possession but, perhaps due to a rejigged backline and pack caused by injuries including two in the warmups, their defence was not up to the usual high standards.
Alex Bradley again led Morrinsville from the front and was their outstanding player, while lock Duncan Leask and flanker Brett Harrison also played well in their pack and Wilson and midfielder Vesi Rauluni the same in their backs.
Flanker Brook Tauriko and fill-in lock Tee Kiso, who had played half a game for the B team beforehand, were Otorohanga's standout forwards, while Hone Wanden and Rupeni Seduadua the best of their backs, along with standout halfback Ben Needham.
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Hamilton Old Boys 29
Te Awamutu Sports 24
Despite being outscored three tries to two by a spirited Te Awamutu team, Hamilton Old Boys managed to hold on at Fred Jones Park, thanks in the main to another exceptional goal-kicking performance from Kane Adams, bfJohn Holtnf reports.
Adams, who had a fine all-round game at both first-five and fullback, converted both of his team's tries as well as kicking five penalty goals.
The match was an entertaining affair with both sides doing their best to play expansive rugby on a playing surface that was still in excellent condition despite the heavy rain of recent days.
Old Boys led 10-0 in the match after just nine minutes of play, helped by a simple overlap try to right wing Henry Speight.
Te Awamutu bounced back with a fine try to flanker Cohen Masson following a cleverly constructed driving maul from a lineout.
The home side were comfortably ahead 19-10 at halftime thanks to Adams' goal-kicking, but Te Awamutu applied pressure early in the second spell and were rewarded when Masson scored his second try after some disorganisation in the Old Boys defence, Jordan Davies' wide-angled conversion narrowing the home side's lead to 19-17.
Old Boys then lifted their game and added more vigour to their attack. Livewire halfback Malcolm Barnes cleverly created a try for replacement flanker Johan Bardoul and at 29-17 Old Boys again looked in command, although Te Awamutu grabbed a bonus point a few minutes before the end with an outrageous converted try from a quick penalty tap to young Englishman Davies, who was the visitors' dominant player.
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Hautapu 24
Melville 19
Hautapu dominated the first half of this match at Memorial Park to lead 24-10 at halftime but Melville came back strongly in the second half, helped by a welter of penalties and the boot of first-five Jon Teruki-Chambers.
Loose forwards Jamie McQueen and Jordan Smiler starred for Hautapu and halfback Jeff Smith gave a competent display behind the pack but in the cold, wet, slippery conditions there were few opportunities for the backs, although 18-year-old fullback Todd Doolan managed to bag a pair of tries on the end of attacking chains.
Melville, who took a grip on possession and territory in the second spell, had flanker Noel Galloway and dangerous centre TK Moeke as their best performers.
