|
Team |
Result |
Report |
|
DIV 1 VIPERS |
46 – 31 loss vs Lincoln University |
The Div 1 side travelled out to Lincoln for their second match in the top 6. A case of slow first half with a massive comeback was on show again as Varsity failed to fire a shot in the first half, even when Lincoln Uni lost a man to the bin inside the 1st 5 minutes. The half time score read 29-0 in Lincoln’s favour. So once again Varsity had to dig deep and get back into the game in the second half. Replacement prop Gaius Reweti made a big impact with his running game and foot work, bending the Lincoln Uni line with every carry. The fight back got to 31-32 in Lincolns favour with 5 minutes to play but a couple of pushed passes as the Vipers were fighting their way out of their own territory were intercepted, with the final score blowing out to 46-31. Players Man of the match went to Nigel Gibb who shifted from wing to centre midway through the first half and gave the team great go forward with his carries. |
|
Women Viperettes |
0 – 93 win vs Marist Albion |
The woman’s team had another good game against Marist Albion winning 93-0. With Ernie giving lots of the team a chance to play out of position, with the forwards playing in the back line and vice versa. Carol Hogan was player of the day and had an absolutely stunning game scoring two tries and playing a full eighty minutes. Epe Aukuso went and joined the other team for the last 25 minutes, which had the girls on their toes as she wasn’t taking it easy on anyone. Harriet Meates had a moment of excellence after Elizabeth Pera set her up for a try only to have it denied by the ref for a forward pass (it wasn’t forward). All around a good game to finish up the normal season with the top five competition starting next week. Also a farewell to Cerea Steficek (Red) as she heads home to the States. We wish her all the best for the future and thank her for being a vital part of the team. |
| DIV 2 | 28 – 17 win vs HSOB | Inspired by the return of their fearless leader Any Ireland, the Div 2 boys fronted up and played some code to be proud of, defeating the Jersey Pullers 28-17. This keeps the team well in the hunt for a top 6 finish, with one game to go in the first round. After an extremely disap- pointing outing the week before against Belfast, the lads had something to prove on their home turf. However, due to university exams, many players did not arrive until minutes be- fore the game, which was evident with simple errors early. The Old Boys continually crashed ball around the ruck, but the Varsity defence mowed them down early, giving opportunity for the likes of flanker Adrian Pitman, lock Kieran Howden and even halfback Brett Menefy to get over and steal some pill. It was off this counter attack that Varsity began to expose their opponents defensive gaps in the midfield. The first try came after a breaking run from hooker Jamie Verstappen, feeding it to flanker Adrian Pitman show- ing just enough gas to get over the line. Shortly after, captain Andy Ireland spotted a similar gap and sliced on through, being stopped only metres away, but quick thinking from second five Matty Hanson as he picked the ball, going blindside and allowed the young man to dive over for the score. The last 10 minutes of the half, the lads defended their own line valiantly, with the forwards putting in some tough drudgery to keep their oversized opponent to only a penalty kick. The second half saw both teams have spells of dominance, but it was a University team play- ing with a cooler head, able to score first; a lineout win by Duke Chambers set up the ‘Big Hu- man’ Fraser Bryant to muscle over from about 15 metres in. The Old Boys would touch down one late to make it appear close, but some heroics in the death by ‘Big Bad’ Bazza Menefy, as he broke countless tackles from their big cumbersome forwards to will himself over the line, secured the well earned victory. Andy Ireland was grinning ear-to-ear after the game, proud of the lad’s immense performance and “d-ing up like animals”. Special mention has to go to Jamie Verstapen, Kieran Howden and Fraser Bryant for the immense defensive workloads they took on, the hard running and evasive partnership of Matty Hanson and Anthony Taite in the midfield, and the bravery of wingers Gwillim Richards and Oscar Nesbitt for risking life and limb under the high ball. Player’s Man of the Match: Adrian Pitman, who proved to himself and the coaching staff where he truly belongs: as a ball stealing, line breaking, chop tackling flanker; not a back. |
| COLTS PREM | 30 odd – 5 loss vs Christchurch |
We lost 30 odd – 5 Sam Donnelly scored and was man of the match wally got 10 minutes in the naughty chair but will take it to his grave that he had all rights to that ball |
| DIV 3 TIGERS | 5 – 43 loss to Marist Albion Beacons | It was another tough day at the office for the Tigers on Saturday, missing a number of key personnel to injury and other commitments, some more legitimate than oth- ers. The Beacons side were stacked full of young, small fit buggers who were close to rampant with ball in hand. They ran the ball at will and caught us napping on a number of occasions. We struggled to use the ball effectively and played the overwhelming majority of the game inside our own half. Things got a bit better through the middle of the game but we had to play most of the second half with a makeshift backline with a number of guys playing out of position through necessi- ty. We will attempt to claim a moral victory however, as we scored the last try and won the scrums approximately 22-3. If we hadn’t won so many tightheads things would probably have been even worse. Player of the Day: Logan “Whispering Death” Whyte Dick of the Day: Rick “Punchy Sweaty” van Olphen |
University of Canterbury Rugby Football Club 