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: Colts Prem (or whoever you can scrape together)

Bar Manager: Kieran

Lock Up: John G

Match Reports

Div 1 – Courtesy of the CRFU website

At Rugby Park: University 34 (Nigel Gibb 2, Isaac Leota, Morgyn Cowan, Jimmy Tupou tries; Finlay Christie 3 conv, pen) beat Sumner 10 (Elias Caven, Wes Mauafu tries). HT: 8-0. Referee: James Munro. Sin-bin: Liam Geer (Sumner). 

A strong forward display and an ability to ruthlessly capitalise on opposition errors was fundamental to University’s second win on the bounce, over Sumner.

In a game riddled with errors from both sides it was University who took their opportunities as they netted five tries to Sumner’s two.

The scoring started in third minute when Sumner were penalised were losing their feet at the ruck with University halfback Finlay Christie potting the penalty goal for his side.

Despite numerous breaks and strong sniping runs by both sides, handling let them down for the rest of the first half until Sumner prop Liam Geer was sin- binned on the stroke of half-time for a ruck infringement following a strong run by Christie.

From the ensuing penalty, University’s pack showed their dominance of the Sumner eight with a strong rolling maul providing the game’s first try to flanker Morgyn Cowan.

After Christie missed a penalty attempt early in the second half, University were quick to make sure it didn’t go unrewarded as they camped themselves in Sumner’s half.

A few phases later, strong-running centre Nigel Gibb found a bit of space and burst through a couple of tackles to extend their lead out to 15-0.

Sumner’s moment came after 54min when University’s try-scoring hero from the first half became the villain as his offload hit the deck and was pounced on by centre Poasa Waqanibau who burst 65m up field before passing to Elias Caven who crossed out wide.

It was to be the only sign of a comeback however as errors continued to plague Sumner and unsurprisingly Gibb’s second try came via an intercept deep in Sumner’s 22m.

Reliable second-five Isaac Leota brought up University’s bonus-point try when the ball was spread to him from a scrum 30m out from his own line, where he brushed off three tacklers on a weaving 70m run to the line.

With 5min to go, Sumner found themselves on a rare attacking foray into Varsity’s 22m and, after they spread the ball wide, Wes Mauafu showed his strength to carry a would-be tackler over the line to reduce the margin to 29-10.

With time up University decided to have one last crack at the Sumner line from a penalty. After winning the lineout, Jimmy Tupou used his size and strength to muscle his way across.

Christie was the standout performer for University. His crisp passes set his side’s backline alight on a number of occasions and he was also dangerous around the ruck, producing plenty of line breaks as Sumner’s defence remained consistently on edge to the threat he posed.

His only blemish came with the boot as he missed a couple of his six attempts before he was replaced after 67min.

Gibb’s direct running got University on the front foot plenty of times throughout the contest and his footwork and short passing game was also a feature.

Tupou was a standout in a forward pack that, with the exception of one strong Sumner rolling maul in the first half, was dominant as he ranged wide on three occasions throwing well timed off-loads to his outsides while he was also reliable at lineout time.

Leota for the third week running didn’t put a foot wrong in a backline with a number of personnel changes (losing Marty McKenzie and Jone Macilai to Crusaders’ duty) for this game.

Women – Win by default against Sydenham, who’ve now done this for the second time in two years. The ladies played an 11 a side game amongst themselves, with only one player needing sending to hospital.

Div 2 – Courtesy of Justin Rafton

It was a second half that the Yams would like to put behind them, as they fell 41-14 to Sydenham on ANZAC weekend. The Yams named a strong squad lead by a fearsome forward pack, though lacking the presence, leadership and inspiring tone of their captain, Jamie Verstappen for this week. They were bolstered with the return of Div 2 alum Liam Murphy at hooker to fill that void. The game started so well for the Yams. The pattern worked a treat, the passes and offloads were smart and crisp, the kicks found space and every carry seemed to gain metres. They imposed their pressure at will, causing penalties by their opponents to amass. They knew they were in tough with a stronger opponent, and needed to take points wherever they could come. Two early penalties from departing fullback Chris Lines helped gain momentum. He then would add to that after a dominant attacking scrum provided the perfect pill for him to find enough space at first receiver to dot down on the left side. It was then, with all the cards in their hands, that the Yams made some uncharacteristic mistakes. Off the ensuing kickoff, the clearance did not find touch and the Sydneham fullback was able to step his way through the staggered defensive line and score under the posts. Then the following kickoff to the middle of the pitch provided the perfect set up for Sydenham to counter attack deep into the Uni half. Following a ruck penalty, Sydenham would take the lead off a suspect move at the back of a line out maul. Suddenly the Yams found themselves behind 14-11. The Yams would draw the scores before half thanks to a Ryan Lill steal at a ruck, leading to a third Lines penalty. The coaches were frustrated with the last 10 minutes of the half; however the feeling was still optimistic from the initial dominance. The second half started very similar to the first. The Yams attacked deep early and had a scrum on the 5 after the caveman, Fraser Bryant was held up just over the line. However, the new mouth guard rule would come to hurt the Yams for the first time this year, allowing Sydenham a penalty and opportunity to clear. Things suddenly went from bad to worse from there. Minimal communication on defence created gaps that were easy for the Sydenham backs to exploit. They would quickly score 2 tries in the right corner. Nothing seemed to click for the Yams. Kicks for touch were not finding it, passes were at the ankles or over the head, carries were weak and constantly stolen and ruck time was abysmal. Though the score line may be a little over exaspertive, the Yams can play much better, especially if the first 30 minutes was any indication. They look forward to making amends next weekend against arch rival, New Brighton. Special mention has to go to props Kensei Kobayashi and his replacement, Tana Luke for strong scrummaging under trying circumstances, lock Torin Rensford and eight Fraser Bryant for some devastating carries and fly half Benjamin Fox for leading a back line that has lacked quality time practicing together. Brett Menefy Players’ Man of the Match: Kieran Howden was all over the park in his stint before injury with inspiring work on the defensive side and at line out time.

Div 3 – Courtesy of Grimace

The Tigers had a game to forget on Saturday, making Burnside look good as they went down 41 – 5 at Burnside Park. Whilst the game was not all bad there were a number of mishaps that shouldn’t have happened and we were rather lacklustre on defence in addition to getting monstered in the scrums for much of the first half.

We clawed our way back in to the game with a well worked try to centre Hayden Thomson and for a while it looked like we might manage to claw our way back into the game somewhat. It was not to be however, as a couple of injuries and a lack of match fitness meant we were unable to keep up with the pace of the game and fill in captain Shannon “Goldy” Goldsmith gave us a well deserved rark up at the end of the game.

We’d like to extend a big thanks to the Div 2 guys that game down to fill in for us with 8 players away on holiday, field trips or injured.

Player of the Day was technically Shannon Goldsmith but we gave it to Meatsey Jnr who played the full 80 and covered both sides of the scrum.

Colts Prem – Lost by default

Colts – Technically won by default because Linwood showed up without a front row, but they played a game anyway and wound up winning for real, something on the order of 59 – 0.

Matt Little scored 5 tries and was made player of the day.