Tasman Makos: News

Waitohi to meet Central in Senior Club Final
26-Jul-2010

The Marlborough Express - JOHN ALEXANDER
Crafar Crouch Waitohi have a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the Picton-based club's 125th anniversary this year with a premier title and, at the same time, reverse last year's result.

The Tohis will meet Biddy Kate's Central in next weeekend's Wadsco Marlborough premier club rugby grand final after out-classing a plucky Harcourts Renwick side 27-3 on Saturday. Central booked another grand final showdown by dispatching Moutere in equally convincing fashion, 19-0.

Both matches were sensibly moved off a saturated No1 field. Groundsman Colin Cameron and Marlborough Rugby Sub-Union area manager Craig Morris deserve a lot of credit for organising enough fields in good enough condition to allow all scheduled matches to played in what was an entertaining festival of club rugby.

Five clubs will be represented in Saturday's premier, senior division two and under-16 grand finals. Harlequins and Renwick will contest the division two final after 53-3 and 18-0 wins over Waitohi and Moutere respectively, while Harlequins and Kaikoura meet in the under-16 final, having beaten Waitohi and Moutere 25-0 and 27-5 respectively.

Waitohi 27 Renwick 3Renwick certainly gave it everything, and for a long time were still very much in the hunt. However, Waitohi's greater organisation and in particular their superior backline pace proved the decisive factor.

Cheered on by vocal supporters, Renwick were primed from the kickoff. Flanker Hayden Marfell's kamikaze tackling signalled their intentions.

Lock Amco Cassidy missed an early penalty opportunity for Renwick, as did Michael Hillgrove for Waitohi. Hillgrove drew first blood, landing a penalty in the 20th minute after sustained pressure.

Renwick midfielder Julius Bradley was the recipient of the first of four yellow cards dished out by referee Joe Bancroft, pinged for slowing down the ball at the breakdown.

Waitohi then produced the try of the semifinals, winger Hayden Gaudin racing around under the posts after a sweeping move in which powerhouse No8 Manu Mataele made the critical break. Hillgrove converted, but Renwick hit back with a Cassidy penalty.

Tasman Makos first five-eighth Daniel Hawkins drew a loud cheer from the Waitohi supporters when he came on 14 minutes into the second half, but shortly afterwards, Waitohi halfback James Giles was binned for a breakdown offence. Renwick turned down the goal-kicking opportunity in search of a try which never came. Minutes later, Hawkins landed a 30-metre penalty to increase Waitohi's lead to 13-3. Renwick prop Ryan Holdaway was next in the bin, for another ruck offence.

Waitohi struck again five minutes from fulltime, Giles taking a quick tap penalty and Hawkins in the move which saw replacement winger Perry Mahuika score with his first touch. Hawkins then converted from near the sideline.

The Tohis finished in style, fullback Hayden Woolley diving over out wide from a clever switch of play by Hawkins and good support from Nathan Peipi and Troy Looms, with Hawkins nailing another difficult conversion.

Prior to that, Renwick came agonisingly close to scoring, mounting several charges at Waitohi's line, with prop Anaru Norton being held up.

Waitohi's forwards set a good platform, with flanker Daniel Karena outstanding in the first half until forced off with what looked like a serious groin injury. Skipper and flanker Les Ivamy was a dominant presence and Mataele, although reasonably well contained, still gave his side plenty of go-forward. Looms provided some good touches, and Kieran Gaudin was a standout.

In the backs, Giles had a fine game, Scott Ivamy did everything well in midfield, and Hawkins oozed class.

For a gutsy Renwick outfit, Hayden Marfell, skipper Hamish Greenwood, Norton and Cassidy battled away gamely, while Kyle Marfell and Ryan Schollum combined well in the inside backs.

Waitohi coach Murray Burgess was delighted with his team's performance. "Renwick really fronted up. We knew it was going to be difficult, but at the same time we were confident that if we played all right, we would just have a slight edge on them, and that proved to be."

Central 19 Moutere 0

Defence as much as attack won a hard-fought match for the Blues.

Early in the second half, Moutere, 0-11 down, mounted a sustained attack on Central's line, but the defence held and the Magpies were eventually repelled pointless.

Normally reliable goal kicker Greg Blick had an off day, missing three shots, and Moutere turned down a couple of easy goal-kicking opportunities during that onslaught in their search for a try which never came.

In the opening salvos, Central narrowly missed scoring after stringing together some impressive attacks. Rawiri Tamati gave them a 3-0 lead with an 18th-minute penalty, small reward for Central's domination until that point. Tamati added a second penalty six minutes later.

Moutere went close to scoring through prop Joe Collins, but it was the Blues who scored next, winger Simi Volavola diving on the loose ball after an impressive buildup and a deft kick ahead by Onolevu Temo.

After weathering Moutere's early second-half storm, Central broke clear and Tamati landed another penalty. Flanker Francis Roebeck capped off a standout performance with the Blues' second try, following up Simi Volavola's kick ahead near the finish.

Central's performance was easily their best for some time, and the most pleasing aspect for them is the number of try-scoring opportunities they created.

Roebeck and Reyne Volavola were outstanding in the the loose and on defence. Daniel Crockett had a fine game at lock, and veteran prop John Pale churned out a high work rate.

Corkin was his livewire self from halfback, and Temo was as fearless and penetrative as ever in midfield.

While Moutere's forwards gave as good as they got, the Magpies' backs were muddled and made too many errors, Blick being the notable exception, as he has been all season.

The rangy first-five tried everything to spark a try but to no avail.

Up front, Jonathon Andrews, Stu Campbell, playing at No8 and lock, Warrick de Waal and prop James Hounslow battled hard.

Tasman Makos hooker Vernon Fredericks played the last half-hour at No8 but was generally well contained by Central's enthusiastic defence.

Winning coach Neville Saul said afterwards: "I was a bit worried when we blew three tries in that first 20 minutes, but after halftime, when we spent 10 minutes defending our line, that won the game for us.

"It seems a long time ago when we won the title last year, but we are ready for it now. Just looking at the guys now, they are up for it."

In next Saturday's finals, Waitohi and Central will meet at Lansdowne Park No1 at 3pm.

At 1pm is the senior division two final between Harlequins and Renwick, and at 11.15am, Harlequins play Kaikoura in the under 16 final, with all matches on the No1 ground.