Two teams off to the ‘big dance’
Two Marlborough rugby sides will feature in the weekend’s Tasman Trophy rugby finals. At Lansdowne Park on Saturday, Central earned a chance to play for a men’s Tasman Trophy ‘three-peat’ when they overcame what was initially a stern challenge from Stoke to prevail 3810. They will play Kahurangi in Motueka on Saturday, after the top-qualifiers defeated Waimea Old Boys 38-20.
Meanwhile, at Awarua Park, the Moutere women’s side also booked a date at the big show with a 27-15 victory over Kahurangi. On Saturday they will play top-qualifier Marist in the title-decider on Nelson’s Trafalgar Park.
The women’s game was tied up 5-5 after a scrappy first 40 but the Magpies made the most of home advantage to pull away in the second spell on the back of a dominant scrum and better ball retention.
Number eight Niska Scott scored a try in both halves, while first five Hannah Gillespie, plus midfielders Bryher Jager and Fiaali’i Solomona bagged the others. Halfback Maddison Reid landed a conversion to complete the scoring.
Players of the day were Scott, Solomona and Gillespie while Jager, flanker Courtney Finau and Reid were instrumental in the second half revival.
In the men’s semifinal at rugby HQ, Central were immediately on the back foot as Stoke came out with fire and defensive intensity, no doubt stung by the hiding dished out on the same ground two weeks earlier. After just five minutes they silenced the hometown crowd, hooker Eli Oudenryn charging down an attempted
Photo supplied.
clearance to put the visitors ahead, Taine Robinson adding the conversion.
However, it was not long before the Blues’ main men began to stamp their mark on proceedings, player/coach Quentin MacDonald and Highlanders player Timoci Tavatavanawai touching down before the break, the powerhouse winger crossing the line twice.
Ahead 21-10 at halftime, the Blues then flexed their offensive muscle, a brace of tries to livewire loosie Jack Kelly and a third to Tavatavanawai completing a rewarding afternoon. First five Mitch Smith landed four conversions, while his opposite, Robinson, limped out of the game at halftime.
Props Dusty Foley and Sione Papani, locks Luke Martella and Matt McCormick, plus the loose forward trio of Braden Stewart, Jack Kelly and Jesse MacDonald provided a solid platform for the Blues, especially at set piece time. Smith, midfielders Ben Filipo and Jake Cresswell, Tavatavanawai and fullback Logan Murphy made good use of the plethora of ball they were provided with. MacDonald said having to travel away for a final would be a new experience for the Blues, and a challenge they welcomed after having the previous two finals at Lansdowne Park.
“It is exciting. We have earned ourselves one more week. Semifinals are always hard games to win because it is hard not to have one eye on the final.
“We know Kahurangi away will be tough but we have a lot of experience … we get excited around this time of the year and just want to do well.
“We will prepare well and go over there and give it a good shot.”
The finalists have shared the honours in their previous two encounters this season, Central winning away 23-20 in April and Kahurangi prevailing 28-19 at Lansdowne Park in May, setting the scene for a memorable decider.
Division two
The semifinalists in the Marlborough division two competition have been confirmed – Renwick meeting Awatere and Waitohi taking on Central.
In Saturday’s final round robin matches Awatere warmed up for the finals with a 38-19 win over Central in Seddon, while Renwick downed Waitohi 35-19 in Renwick.
In the other match, played in Havelock, Pelorus beat Harlequins 24-10.
Final
points:
Renwick 46, Waitohi 35, Central 28, Awatere 25, Pelorus 10, Harlequins 6.
First XV
The Marlborough Boys’ College First XV continued their topsy-turvy season with a hefty 46-14 loss to Christchurch Boys’ High School in Christchurch on Saturday.
MBC sit sixth on the Miles Toyota premiership table, with home games remaining against Selwyn Combined and St Bede’s before the play-offs.
Pelorus sent a chilling message to their premier netball competition at Stadium 2000 last week.
The defending champs, who have had to play second fiddle to closest rivals Harlequins Totalspan so far this season, put together a compelling all-court performance to win the 2023 grand final replay 55-43.
The Quins side, unbeaten before last week’s reversal, a run which included a two-point win over Pelorus in mid-May, went into the clash as slight favourites but were unable to stay with the Dark Blues when they lifted their intensity.
Circle attackers Paige Lovell and Cara Gallop, both experienced campaigners, formed a reliable partnership under the hoop, taking full advantage of a slick service from Pelorus middies Stormy Tupara, Kelsie Fitzpatrick and Brittney Lyons.
Pelorus put up 79 shots to their opponent’s 63, the result of turnovers created by hard work throughout the court, but especially in the defensive circle. Pelorus were without outstanding defenders Oriana Houra and Jordy Peipi, but were able to call on the services of former MGC standout Mya Gibbons whose arrival at GK in the second quarter upped the defensive intensity a couple of notches.
She was complemented by Ella Smith, the pair making Quins battle for every possession and every goal.
The first quarter gave no indication of a decisive scoreline, ending 15-12 to Pelorus, but the second stanza told another story, the Dark Blues carrying a 10-goal advantage into halftime. Quins mounted a mini-revival at the start of the third, led by the athletic Wiri Bristowe, but Pelorus consolidated and won both the final quarters by one-goal margins to spare themselves any nervous moments before the final whistle and set down a marker for the remainder of the season.
Defenders Olivia Robinson and Wendy Trolove turned in a big shift for Quins, who finished the round tied on points with Pelorus, who previously lost to Tokomaru. However, Quins were able to claim the second-round title on points differential.
The evening’s early game featured Tokomaru up against the unpredictable Awatere side, the Picton-based crew coming out on top 72-50.
Toko had a good night, their midcourters Kayla Wilson, Shannon McManaway and Chloe Devir gelling well. Another player to catch the eye was the versatile Teish O’Connell, turning in impressive stints at GD and centre, while the ever-dependable Gemma Hika just keeps on dropping in goals.
The Tussocks were not at their best, their combinations not as smooth as previous weeks. Ashley Childs, Harriet Williams and Sarah Hewson worked hard but their side was unable to mount any scoreboard pressure on their rivals.
The third match of the round was another competitive encounter, with Marlborough Girls’ College downing Harlequins Fairweathers 55-41.
By halftime MGC had forged a 12-goal advantage and, although the final stanzas were relatively evenly-fought the students rolled smoothly to the final whistle. Leading the way were the attacking
Photo Peter Jones trio of Hazel Glover, Sophia Nicholas and Anel Moli who took full advantage of a 79-61 imbalance in goal attempts. Ella Sowman in midcourt also stood out while Ramona Waikato, Kayla Walsh and Jorja Bacchus were at the core of Quins’ effort.
Netball scores from July 2:
Marlborough Girls’ College Liquid Action 55 (Hazel Glover 17/26, Sophia Nicholas 22/32, Anel Moli 16/21) Harlequins Fairweathers 41 (Ramona Waikato 11/18, Hannah McCabe 1/4 Jorja Bacchus 28/36, Kayla Walsh 1/3). Quarter scores (winning
from the MGC 2 girls to go through qualifying winning all their matches, this being the first tournament for all four girls. Overall, Sophia, Caitlin and Liv won all five singles, Abbie won three from four and Freya, Ellie and Vespa won two.
The Marlborough Boys’ College also had two sides competing, claiming third and sixth spots from 32 boys’ teams.
MBC 1 members Ollie Phipps, Harry Speakman and Adam Beattie breezed through pool play winning all four matches with ease. Their semi-final against a Nelson Boys’ College combination saw Ollie and Harry holding match point in their doubles, a win booking them a berth in team first): 14-8, 15-9, 8-8, 18-16. Tokomaru Crafar Crouch 72 (Dakota Tepuia 15/20, Gemma Hika 57/67) Awatere 50 (Ashley Childs 1/1, Bobby Childs 11/16, Anna Hewson 38/48). Quarter scores: 19-13, 20-13, 14-13, 19-11. Pelorus Edridge Contracting 55 (Paige Lovell 40/57, Cara Gallop 15/22) Harlequins Totalspan 43 (Jack Frew 16/23, Wiri Bristowe 19/22, Lauren Murray 8/18). Quarter scores: 15-12, 18-11, 1110, 11-10.
Harlequins Totalspan 12, Pelorus 12, Tokomaru 10, Awatere 6, MGC 5, Harlequins Fairweathers 4.
Points:
the final. However, it was not to be, a loss in the final set putting them in a playoff for third against Waimea, which they won 5-0. MBC 2, comprising Tommy Phipps, Oscar Duncan and Luke Tucker, did exceptionally well in pool play, only losing out to the eventual overall winners Waimea. The boys progressed to the plate where they won through to the final before going down 2-3. Overall, Ollie won five from five singles and Harry and Adam four. Tommy, playing number one for MBC 2, won three from five, Oscar, playing number two, won two hard-fought singles and number three player Luke came away with three impressive singles wins.