Congratulations:

To Brad Hemopo, our current Div One number 8 who played his first game for the Crusaders against the Highlanders in Oamaru last thursday.

He was called in on a temporary contract over the international window and it is a well deserved call up for being a consistent stand out so far this season. Brad has at times had to fill in more than adequately at several positions in the backline playing number 8, lock, halfback and second five this season.

 

Team – Div 2

Bar Manager – Jaln

Lock Up – John Gibb

 

DIV 1 – COURTESY OF THE CRFU WEBSITE

 At Ilam Fields: Sydenham 24 (Ray Nu’u, Milford Keresoma tries; Kieran Lindsay conv, 4 pen) beat University 14 (Finlay Christie, Sam Godwin tries; Bradley Hemopo 2 conv). HT: 10-0. Referee: Blair Barclay.

Sydenham stayed firmly in touch with a place in the top four with a gritty 24-14 win based on a determined defensive resolve and by making the most of the opportunities that came their way.

Each side scored two converted tries. However, University’s came in the last quarter when the effects of the energy-sapping defensive effort mounted by Sydenham was taking its toll.

The match started sensationally. University kicked off and Sydenham cleared, kicking it 60m up field, from where the students tried to attack 40m from their own line.

From a fortuitous intercept Sydenham scored. A Varsity pass came off a shoulder and bounced into the hands of rookie 18-year-old centre Ray Nu’u who, in his first touch of the ball at this level, broke the last tackle and scooted 40m to cross under the bar. Kieran Lindsay converted for 7 – 0 after 45 seconds.

For the next 39min, the maroons dominated possession and territory but couldn’t score due to a defiant Sydenham defence that denied University continuity by defending its goal-line with resolve and forcing pressure errors and turnovers.

You could feel the awesome bruising attacking defence from the side-line as the students continually hammered away inside the Sydenham 22m for no reward.

With Jay Smith and Misi Lamoseteli featuring, supported by Kalave Auli’itia, they smashed attackers to ground inches from the chalk or held them up on or over the goal-line.

When a strangely one dimensional home team tried to go wide they were met by the uncompromising defence of impressive midfielder Gillen Larrat, who inspired his mates to emulate him.

In the 37^thmin, the cardinals made a rare visit into the University 22m and forced a penalty. Lindsay goaled and the break came with Sydenham ahead 10 -0 and University supporters scratching their heads.

In the first 25min of the second stanza the visitors enjoyed a more even share of possession and territory but couldn’t manage to cross the line due to some equally impressive University defence.   Lindsay kicked two penalties in this period to extend the lead to 16.

By the 66^thmin Sydenham had emptied its bench through injuries and the desire to introduce fresh legs.

University started to reassert itself and, after seven phases left and right, a gap opened for the electric standout, halfback Finlay Christie, who scored beside the posts. Bradley Hemopo converted and the gap was nine with 13min to play.

From the restart, Sydenham forced a turnover in their own territory and moved the ball quickly right to Milford Keresoma. He began a powerful 40m flirt with the chalk and the attention of numerous defenders that resulted in a try in the corner.

With 6min to play, Christie mounted a solo run from 70m out. Running over, under and through a tiring defence he found Sam Godwin on his shoulder. The pass was made and Godwin scored. Hemopo converted and the students were seven points adrift.

Lindsay, whose successful penalty kicks in the second half kept the match tantalisingly out of reach of University, goaled the vital penalty in the 77^th min to ensure a Sydenham win.

In a solid team effort, visitors who made a noticeable impact were Misi Lamositele, who showed a different dimension by standing out in a defensive role. Larrat stood out in the midfield defence and distributed effectively with limited opportunities. Auali’itia was massive in the tight exchanges and at disrupting University lineout throws.

Keresoma was busy on the wing and the two tyros, Nu’u and Brodie McAlister, impressed.

University standouts were Christie, whose key roles were completed expertly and was a threat when he ran, centre Nigel Gibb, Godwin and lock Caleb Aperahama.

 

Woman – Deferred

 

Div 2 – Courtesy of Wally

With only pride to play for, the Yams returned to the Vege Patch to play a struggling Suburbs outfit in the last game of the regular season. With continued injuries in the cursed number 10 jersey, it was once again inside-back utility, Jaden “Wally” Wallace, who stepped up to fill the void. With a limited warm-up due to his ACCT346 exam that morning and being appointed vice-captain for the match, the young man once again had a massive burden on his shoulders and was required to carry his team for the second week in a row.

The Yams had all the early momentum as they shifted the ball from side-line to side-line even in the difficult muddy conditions. Returning second-five eighth, Jack “the Bus” McLeod, was able to slice through the Suburbs midfield and finish off a 60m individual try after bamboozling the fullback with a show-and-go. Wally obliged with the boot as the Yams went up 7-0 after 5 minutes. The next few minutes saw very adventurous play, especially with those wearing smaller numbers on their backs; an unlucky deflection off the base of the post being the only thing denying hooker Jamie “Jew” Verstappen from finishing of a chip-and-chase. However, the ideal field position combined with a typical Jaden Wallace miracle ball, were the perfect ingredients for winger Thomas Chan to gallop over for his first 5-pointer of the season. Again it was obvious that Wally had brought his kicking boots as the conversion from the side-line sailed over the black dot. The early Yams momentum lead to frustration in the Suburbs camp and the repeated foul play lead to two yellow cards late in the first half (with the latter being fortunate not to be seeing red). The Yams somewhat capitalised on the advantage and took a 19-0 halftime lead with a Japanese import Genki Arita bagging some meat.

The momentum slowed in the second half and the Yams took until the 60th minute to cross over the white chalk via number 8, Fraser Bryant. After a second yellow card to the Suburbs fullback, the one-man advantage lead to tries to Josh Joubert and Hamish Paterson. A late Suburbs try was too-little-too-late as the Yams ran away with it 38-5.

After a special 40 minutes for the out-of-retirement-for-the-fifth-time, Jared “Brick” Brixton, the Player-Coach was still disappointed with his team’s performance, “We left a lot on the field, probably threw away 30 to 40 points. Wally is an exceptional first five but there is only so much one player can do, the rest of the team needed to step up.”

All eyes turn to next week as the Yams start their journey to win the bowl, and more importantly, Wally’s 50th game in the Maroon jersey (achieved over 3 teams). His 75% goal kicking since being entrusted with the number 10 jersey ranks him higher than all NZ Super Rugby first-fives for 2016.

Man of the Match: Josh Joubert- Started the match at blindside flanker then proved very difficult to handle when he moved to wing then centre.
Final Score: 38-5

Prem Colts – Courtesy of Harry Ferguson

Twas a good day for it. Up against Belfast for the second time in the season the boys were in need of a win. With the return of Captain Josh Proctor from injury, Harry Ferguson, the gracious, honorable, courageous, part-time leader of of the copperheads had to stand down.

After a shaky start, the boys pulled their heads in after a few barnstorming runs from Ex-Captain Ferguson. Although the inspirational Ex-Captain didn’t dot down himself, big rig Kieran Hunt scored on the back of some strong forward interplay. Matt Janett scored twice. Finishing off a nice back move and pouncing on a loose ball from a bone crunching tackle from ….. you guessed it, Cullen Regan Simpson.

Nelson received a lovely ball from Proctor off the back of a scrum for his try. Phil showed pace no one knew the lank had in him for his. Alex Kalin seemed distracted which can only be understood seeing the massive night in Ashburton town which awaited him.

5 tries to nil. 31-3. Successful day.

 

Div 3 Tigers – Courtesy of Sef Erasito

It was a tough loss to swallow for the Tigers as we went down 31-12 to Old Boys’. It was a game of the first 15 minutes and the other 65 minutes as we gave them two easy tries from slipped tackles early on in the first half and then nobody really did anything interesting for quite a long spill of the game.

We followed a game plan of whatever ball we have on our half we boot it for territory and whatever we have on their half we punch up the middle. This proved effective as we had long periods where we held on to the ball and the message of support play has slowly sunk in with support players running off the ball carriers waiting for the offload. Forwards worked on stronger body positions in the ruck area and quick recycles and we got a good head of steam with pick and goes and one-off passes from the ruck. Our hard work in the ruck got a bit too much for Old Boys’ as they conceded a few too many penalties and quick taps from halfback Ethan ‘Piri’ Harrison got us more meters up the field and which also got our first try. Piri also tried to replicate his quick darts off the ruck in the second half but a ghost knocked the ball from his hands as his dotted for the line. Silly ghost.

Hide Okada suffered his second mid-air collision in as many weeks, this time having to come off with a severe shoulder injury. It’s yet to be determined how severe it is but Hide is pretty tough and he wouldn’t come off for anything less than a broken bone. Other than Hides injury we’ve come away pretty unscathed and we’ll take that as a positive result as we head into the business end of the season where we aim to finish well ahead of the plate playoffs.

On a side note: it’s been noted that the Viperettes have challenged Ernie into making an appearance for the Tigers. As Ernie is a good friend of the Tigers we welcome him with open arms. His conditions seem reasonable and we can even assign our Tiny Tongan for protective duties during the game. Very Hodor like. We also do a vigorous warm up so muscle fatigue is reduced to a limp and a hobble up until lunch on Mondays.

POD: Matt ‘Lofty’ Donaldson. Keeping rugby oldschool, straight up the guts.

 

Colts – Deferred