Round 13: Te Awamutu Sports vs Melville
18th June 2011 11:32PM
By Hamish Forsman
Te Awamutu Sports have ended a four match losing streak with a hard fought 23-16 win at home over Melville, whose losing bonus point was enough to move them into outright fifth place.
Te Awamutu showed good character to come from behind to win the evenly contested match up at a water-logged Albert Park.
Both teams enjoyed early periods on attack as they jostled for field position in the treacherous conditions, but it was Melville who jumped out to a 13-3 after half an hour with a try to wing Jimmy Horsford and two penalties from fullback Logan Fisher.
However a timely intercept try from Te Awamutu wing Johnny Bird swung momentum back towards the home side, and a penalty from first five Leon Emery made the scores level at the break.
Penalties were traded early in the second half and then with 15 minutes remaining Te Awamutu crossed for what turned out to be the match winning try as Emery pounced on a loose ball and darted through a gap to score under the posts.
Melville tried to play catch up rugby which was never going to be easy in the conditions and a number of handling errors prevented them from mounting any threatening attacks as Te Awamutu held on for a well deserved win.
Emery and halfback Kirtis McNaughten combined well to lead Te Awamutu around the park, while Fisher was influential for Melville with accurate kicking and good decision making.
Te Awamutu Sports 23 (Johnny Bird, Leon Emery tries; Emery 2 cons, 3 pens) Melville 16 (Jimmy Horsford try; Logan Fisher con, 3 pens). HT 13-13.
Other premier division results:
Fraser-Tech 40 (Isaac Oliver 3, Navi Sikivou 2, Tyron Child tries; Sam Christie 4 cons; Tarrin Te Moni con) Hamilton Marist 16 (Frank Halai, Anthony Tuhoro tries; Jacob Honiss 2 pens). HT 12-6.
Hamilton Old Boys 68 (Kane Adams 2, Josh Olsen 2, Johan Bardoul, Shannon Solomon, Dave Faville, Andrew Williams, Isaako Peato, Rena Schuster tries; Adams 9 cons) Te Rapa 10 (Tu Mateaki try; Tyler Leith con; Jordan Cameron pen). HT 12-10.
Otorohanga 49 (Anthony Wise 2, Sekove Seriki 2, Karam Tauroa, Rupeni Seduadua, James Hemara tries; Leighton Parsons 3 cons, 2 pens; Zak Hohneck con) University 19 (Kelly Anderson, Junior Sotagi, Leon Williams tries; Gavin Donald con; Brendyn Ford con). HT 19-7.
Hautapu 28 (Sam Van der Valk, Todd Doolan, Tane Mita tries; Josh Blue 2 cons, 3 pens) Morrinsville Sports 5 (Alex Bradley try). HT 14-5.
Division 1 results:
Southern United 45 Kereone 5
Hinuera 102 Pirongia 0
Leamington 18 Frankton 13
Taupiri 36 Putaruru 3
United Matamata Sports 66 Raglan 0
