Premier Rugby Report - 10 May By LINDSAY KNIGHT Thanks to a heroic effort by fullback Kyle Nu’ualiitia, Western Pioneers retained their second place ladder position on Saturday in the North Harbour premier rugby competition with an exciting 17-14 win over Takapuna. Nu’ualiitia scored all of Western’s points, including three tries, the last of which saved the match when five minutes from time with a resurgent Takapuna ahead 14-12 his side seemed destined for its second loss of the season. But Nu’aliitia, who had been responsible for Western’s 12-0 half-time lead with his first two tries, latched onto a Takapuna breakdown and scampered away to score in the corner. Takapuna surged back into the game in the second spell when Western lost three backs, including the promising Michael Little to injury, and lost structure. Unbeaten Massey stretched their ladder lead to seven with a 69-12 thrashing of bottom side Mahurangi to all but clinch the first round competition with just two games left. Those games are against Glenfield and Northcote and it would be a major surprise if Massey were to lost one of those, let along two. Playing at their Warkworth home, Mahurangi played with plenty of spirit, but had little chance against the well drilled Massey side. Massey’s already talented backline by the return of outstanding young, the Blues squad member Tevita Li. Soon to be in the New Zealand team in the world under 20 championship, Li was in great form scoring three of Massey’s tries.. North Shore strengthened their top four position with a 39-24 win over Glenfield in a hectic contest which produced nine tries, with Tim Blundell again scoring heavily for Shore with 19 points. However, despite the pace of the game it was occasionally fiery. With Jordan Manihera, another who has appeared for the Blues this season, scoring two tries, Silverdale were too strong for Northcote winning 44-14. The big, powerful Silverdale pack was the decisive factor. Marist’s dismal season continued with a 59-7 hammering from East Coast Bays. It has been a difficult season so far for Marist and so under-strength were they at the weekend they defaulted their reserves match. They competed well in the first spell against Bays, but were over-run in the second spell by what is a competent Bays side. Ironically, for Marist in the Bays line-up were a number of their former players, notably representative hooker Manu Leaitaoa, as well as their recent coaches. One player who did stand up in a losing cause was the No 8 Clifford Lambert, who showed vigour and commitment.H H The win did come at a price for Bays. Their experienced leader Roger Dustow left the field in the first spell with a broken nose and concussion. His place in the Bays’ front row was taken by an even older Slade McFarland, the Bays and Harbour legendary hooker who at the age of 41 chalked up his 172nd club appearance. He also played more than 100 Harbour games as well as playing for New Zealand A, New Zealand Maori and for the Blues, Chiefs and Crusaders.
Posted on: Sun, 11 May 2014 21:13:39 +0000
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