Notices

Club Day – Saturday 21st May

One thing the exec were wanting to do this year is to invited the parents and family of each team’s players along for and evening at the clubrooms. We’ve decided to do this on our Club day, which is on the 21st of May. So, please extend the invitation on our behalf.

Subs – thanks to the overwhelming majority of players who have paid their subs in full and on time. For those who haven’t the account number is 01 0833 0077395 00. Full season subs are now $175 for those who have yet to pay anything. Those who are paying off in installments and started before April 2nd pay $150.

Events

7th May – Band Night and Netball Fridge Raffle. Come dressed in theme, with the first letter of your team as your inspiration. See here for more details.

10th May – AGM

14th May – Lincoln Uni Clash at LU

21st May – Club Day

28th May – Quiz Night

 Duty

Bar Duty Team: Women

Bar Manager: Meatsey

Lock Up: Brick

Match Reports

Div 1 – Report courtesy of the CRFU website

8 – 81 win vs Belfast

Damien McKenzie has been the find of the year for the Chiefs in Super Rugby and his brother Marty McKenzie gave everyone a reminder of his talent as well as the depth in the No.10 jersey in the Crusaders’ system as University routed Belfast.

The 12 tries-to-one victory was all one-way traffic, however, as Belfast kept things tight in a scrappy first half marred by errors and plenty of turnovers from both sides.

Belfast started the better as they found themselves hot on attack early, but their handling let them down before McKenzie opened the scoring with a penalty in University’s first foray onto attack.

The game’s first try came moments later. After a strong take at the kick-off by University lock Marty Swaffield, the ball was spread wide to the right where flanker Ryan O’Sullivan dotted down after supplying a great support run up the middle of the park.

After McKenzie converted Belfast experienced their best period of the match as they made several incisions through the Varsity defence, the first of which saw McKenzie sin-binned for a high shot.

For all their endeavour however, Belfast could only net three points from a penalty to Will Stevens.

With 38min gone the game was still very much in the balance at 10-3 until Isaac Leota gave a taste of what was to come in the second half as he cut through Belfast’s left side defence before he sent Bradley Hemopo over for a try to give University momentum heading into half-time.

The second half started in scrappy fashion with both sides feeling each other out, but after three turnovers in a minute McKenzie stamped his mark on the game with a superb individual try as he used his speed to weave his way through three tacklers.

Sensing blood, University kept returning to Belfast’s left edge, which was somewhat resembling a set of turnstiles, as they ran in three tries in 5min, Leota scoring twice and Jone Macilai once.

After being camped in Belfast’s 22m for a period, sustained defensive pressure and some strong direct running had Belfast at sixes and sevens before the ball was spread to Leota, who completed his hat-trick by scoring one of the easiest tries he’ll ever score.

Sick of scoring at will down the right-hand side, University thought they’d change things up by attack down the left where their skipper Sam Godwin made a bust and laid a try on a plate for fullback Tailah Love to make it 59-3.

Macilai scored his second minutes later with McKenzie converting to keep his 100 per cent record intact before Doug Tauiwi and Love also profited down that leaky right side.

With the score 76-3 and 6min left, Belfast finally got their moment in the sun as No.8 Frank Havea barged across to celebrate his 50^th game before McKenzie added the finishing touches with some individual brilliance down the left-hand touch-line.

McKenzie was simply brilliant. He attacked the line with vigour, he had a hand in no less than five of his team’s 12 tries whilst scoring two himself and he nailed 10 from 10 with the boot in a stunning individual display.

A strong contributor who is churning out consistency, Leota turned the match in Varsity’s favour with a strong bust and try assist right on half-time before his penetrating runs earned him three second-half tries.

Macilai had a quiet first half before his dazzling footwork and deft touches caused Belfast real distress down their left edge as he crossed for two and had a hand in a couple of other tries.

Swaffield was another impressive contributor as he was rock solid at lineout time and was safe with the kick-offs which was key to University unleashing their attacking raids from the back.

Women

0 – 117 Win vs Burnside

The Viperettes had another big win this weekend, beating Burnside 117 – 0. Greer O’Rourke earned Player of the Day with more aggression in the first half than Hulk Hogan mid singlet rip. Unfortunately an injury meant she had to come off at half time, but thankfully it didn’t impact on her wardrobe choices later that evening and she was able to rock her heels. Whitney Hansen’s tee running duties were called in to question after IRB Women’s Player of the Year Kendra Cocksedge was left asking “where’s my Powerade?” not once but on two occasions. Bex Prattley scored her first try ever and later that night celebrated with a rather large drink. Liz Pera made a welcomed come back appearance, but the play of the day from the back line would have to be Liv McGoverne’s huge try stopping tackle on Burnside’s deceitfully fast first five. Some good team tries scored, and some even better individual ones, but as Coach Ernie Goodhue said in his post game speech.. About a 6/10 overall with lots to improve on, and not yet good enough if the team is to go on and beat tougher teams. Look forward to hearing about a stronger, better, faster and more ruthless performance next weekend.

Div 2

17-15 Win vs Marist Albion

The top of the table Yams played their maiden game on the Vege Patch this season against Marist Albion. Marist had the early momentum and went up 3-0 after 10 minutes. However, through strong scrummaging and increased intensity, the momentum shifted and the Yams were able to strike back through two long range tries by Fraser Bryant and Andrew Maebiru. Jaden “Wally” Wallace was unable to find his rhythm with the boot early on and the score remained 10-3. However, Marist ‘conveniently’ lost several front rowers through injuries and were able to nullify the the Yams scrum when they were forced to go to golden oldies after just 30 minutes. The Yams backs were also dropping like flies, with Maebiru and Josh Westland (Hamstrings) both in the casualty ward before oranges. However, Flanker-turned-winger Josh Joubert ran some scintillating lines when he injected himself into the backline as the Yams were able to dominate territory in the last 20 minutes of the half.

The second stanza mostly belonged to the green and whites as the Yams were unable to get their hands on the pill. Four second-half penalties to Marist put them up 15-10 with 10 minutes left. The Yams were finally able to get some continuity and go-forward, led by Japanese utility Takumi “Fumiaki” Kawahara and skipper Jamie “Jew” Verstappen. The home side were eventually able to cross over with Ryan Lill bagging meat for the first time this year. The Golden Boot of Henry “Boon” Boon put the Yams up by 2 with 5 minutes remaining. That would be all she wrote as the Yams continued their undefeated season.

Coach Jared “Brick” Brixton was disappointed with his team’s performance but was still happy to get the right result, “in the end, we got the 4 points and remain top of the table. It would have been nice to have gotten the 4 try bonus point but when we can play that far below our best and still win, it’s a very positive sign.”

Vice-captain Justin “J-Raf” Rafton added, “It is good to be on this side of those types of games. We’ve got some things to work at but things are looking up.”

The Yams are back on the road next week in Sydenham as they begin their 2-week southern Christchurch tour.

‘Bazza Menefy’ Player’s Man of the Match: Josh Joubert

Div 3

7 – 13 loss vs Marist Albion

First and foremost we would like to give our condolences to Chris Risbridger whose father passed away last week. Grimace is a key member of the Tigers and him and his family were definitely in our thoughts as we took the field.

It was a narrow loss to Marist Albion, going down 13 – 7. It would have been a last minute win had it not been for the ref getting in the way of a “off the right foot step, spin, take the contact, drive the legs” try from Adam Walker or a fumble in the contact 2m from the line after time was up. We felt that we should have taken better control of the game, used our options better and not give them too much space to run.

We had some brilliant running in the mid-field and our centres combination of Ethan Harrison and Hayden Thompson are starting to show some fruition of them having regular game time together and it will only be a matter of time before they become the midfield pair of the competition. The distribution from Walker to the centres led to Thompson to score our only try, converted by Shotaro Nakagaki. There was also outstanding scrambling defence and we were able to hold them up 3 times inches from the try line. Although no one wants to scramble on D it should the determination and fighting spirit that the Tigers have always had the hunger to win.

We were short of locks and it showed in the scrums where reserve front rows came on in the second half to replace the locks and Marist almost getting the better of us in the scrums which is a rarity for any team to do.

From the talk after the game, the mood in the camp is still positive knowing that we still have a lot left to give for the season and the potential is there to sneak into the top half of the table. A need to refine our micro drills and some heavy contact especially in the ruck area for training was mentioned in the changing sheds as a good place to start.

POD: Adam Walker