Epic battle as Stags topple Kia Toa

Ten minutes from the end of the war of attrition at Kimbolton on Saturday, knackered forwards from both sides lay flat on their backs on the ground sucking oxygen.

In an epic club match, a resurgent Feilding Old Boys-Oroua won by the meagre old-school tally of 3-0 over Kia Toa.

It was described by spectators as "A cracking tense game", "nerve-racking" and "a real old-fashioned battle".

It was defending Hankins Shield champion Kia Toa's first loss since falling 16-13 to Feilding in the Johnston Park slush on June 27 last year. Kias captain Bertus Mulder handed over the Wallace Challenge Cup to the Stags afterwards.

They'd held it since July 4 for nine games.

This was the Stags' best win in two years, since they knocked over Old Boys- Marist in both teams' debut game last year.

Both sides had their chances on Saturday, Kias missing three penalty shots, one hitting the crossbar, and FOB-Oroua missing two. But Willie Cribb nailed one 15 minutes into the game and that was enough.

The game had too much whistle and didn't flow. Playing uphill, Kias dominated the first half possession and territory, denied only by fervent defence and once dropping the ball over the line. At halftime there was a role reversal as territory swung to the Stags, although an accidental offside when Mulder ran into Joggie Viljoen ruled out a certain Kias try.

Kias threw everything at it, attacking around the fringes but FOB-Oroua tackled their hearts out led by flanker Sam Aupouri. And the Stags' B came from 30-22 down to beat Kia Toa 32-30 with time up.

At Kimbolton Domain: FOB-Oroua 3 (Willie Cribb pen) Kia Toa 0, HT 3-0.Old Boys-Marist 39 Linton Army 21

OBM's rep players and slippery Fijian wing Waisea Qiokata got them through this one against the plucky Linton second-stringers.

The army XV came back to trail just 24-21 with a quarter left before Turbos Sean O'Connor, Reece Robinson and Frankie Bryant added structure to the OBM attack as the soldiers flagged. Back from injuries, O'Connor played 80 minutes and Bryant came on early after 25 minutes when Luke Stanley took a head knock.

Linton couldn't curtail Qiokata who twice raced away from the middle of mauls and scored four of the six tries, while Robinson ruled the lineouts. It was a scrappy game, OBM losing too much ball. Prop Isaac Tupai barrelled upfield but kept losing the ball.

The soldiers, with under-21 players backing up in the outside backs, had nothing to lose with only seven of their original senior squad (the rest away with NZ Army in Australia). They countered from OBM's spills and indiscipline, Adrian Curry classy at first-five with lock Tom Kerekere and flanker Grant Robson into everything as was second-five Joe Kanongataa.

At Linton Camp: OB-Marist 39 (Waisea Qiokata 4, Andrew Drysdale, Sean O'Connor, tries; Shaun Curry 3 con, pen) Linton Army 21 (Adrian Curry, Tom Kerekere, tries; Curry 3 pen, con) HT 21-13. Te Kawau 38 Feilding 15

This wasn't a usual game between the two clubs, too much free-flowing rugby for that. Te Kawau scored six tries to two, winning the game in the first half when they led 24-0 after posting four tries.

The Te Kawau loosies, Jackson Wood, Doug Tietjens and Simon Easton, produced quick ball and halfback Stephen Treleaven kept the ball ahead of the pack. Asaeli Tikoirotuma always looked for space.

Feilding came back in the second half (won it 15-14) and by the end their scrum was going strongly. Halfback Aaron Smith did more running and scored a nippy try. Yellows were missing the injured Brad Carr while Hurricane Nick Crosswell was on the bench but didn't play.

At Johnston Park: Te Kawau 38 (Jackson Wood 2, Stephen Treleaven, Chris Creek, Hayden Stratford, Asaeli Tikoirotuma, tries; Volney Rouse 4 con) Feilding 15 (Aaron Smith, Mike Parr, tries; Mitchell Crosswell con, pen), HT 24-0.Varsity A 67 Dannevirke 0

Varsity were without their NZ Universities quartet and had Massey Rams on the bench to help out. They scored steadily throughout the first half and straight after halftime, before going to sleep for 25 minutes.

First-five Scott Davidson controlled the game thanks to a bigger pack on a dry field, locks Dan Fitzharris and Brad Kilgour going strongly. The free-flowing running game suited Varsity.

Dannevirke did little wrong, tried hard and stuck to their game plan of running everything and not kicking. They couldn't finish off two try opportunities and kept tackling until the end.

At Rugby Park, Dannevirke: Varsity 67 (Avon Lewis 3, Dan Fitzharris, Brad Kilgour, Marty Stevenson, Aaron Fergus, Steve Barron, Cormack Chambers, Byson Christiansen, tries; Scott Davidson pen, 7 con) Dannevirke 0, HT 36-0.College Old Boys 62 Freyberg 15

COB dashed in for nine tries, three soft ones conceded by Freys in the first half. COB were always in control, had the better lineout and stronger scrum and ran everything. When Hurricane Andre Taylor came on in the first half, he was classy and scored two tries, playing at fullback and centre. COB ran away in the final quarter, winning the second half 33-7. Prop Talau Hala again made his big runs while Matenga Baker was great in the loose, as was Freys flanker Junior Tunufai.

Freys tackled bravely.Their new rush defence was often pinged for offside.

At Colquhoun Park: COB 62 (Talau Halau 2, Brad Truesdale 2, Andre Taylor 2, Ben Law, Karl Bryson, Jason Harvey, Toha Hemopo, tries; Bryson 6 con) Freyberg 15 (Zac Hamilton, Willie Liuvaie, tries; Rangi Matakatea pen, con) HT 24-8.

- © Fairfax NZ News