Stags' unbeaten run comes to an end

BY PETER LAMPP

The Feilding Old Boys-Oroua Stags used 50 minutes of their clash with College Old Boys as a virtual trial match on Saturday.

And the Stags were crunched 31-5. Figuring little hung on the first-round game, coach Tony Falloon gave backup players from the Stags' B side a gallop, most from last year's senior side. COB took full toll.

When Falloon rolled on six A men in one hit 10 minutes after the break, it immediately proved the Stags will need their A team when they play the tough sides in the second spell.

By then the game was gone at 26-5, the Stags had lost their unbeaten run and COB had dashed away. But once Northland prop Karl Haitana came on, he barrelled former Turbo Talau Hala, who'd been having a great mobile game.

Until then COB had done it easily, David Walker, Karl Bryson and Toha Hemopo dancing down the blindside to set up tries. They fed off the ball their loose men stole at most breakdowns, Kris Callon being isolated too often, and from Stags' lineouts. Lani Kaiwai got another try from an intercept. FOB's most dangerous player was centre Lewis Marshall but he did a Minties, dropping the ball in the act of scoring.

COB had the wind in the second half but the game degenerated with the gloomy weather, full of dropped passes; the only try of the half came from a late COB runaway. Hamuera Baker and Che Wereta also excelled for FOBO.

At Arena Manawatu: College OB 31 ( Brad Truesdale, Toha Hemopo, Karl Bryson, Lani Kaiwai, Pate Natoba, tries; 3 con) FOB-Oroua 5 (Jacob Donaldson try) HT: 26-5.

Kia Toa 27 Linton Army 21

Linton snaffled a bonus point thanks to two tries to flanker Grant Robson in the second half, and despite having up to nine players away at Trentham preparing for the New Zealand Army tour to Australia.

The first half was tight, Kia Toa scoring 10 of their 15 points in the last three minutes, including a converted try. Until then Linton led 6-5 and had early ascendancy against a solid Kias defence.

Kias got away after halftime to lead 27-6 before Linton had the better of the last 20 minutes, getting their final try four minutes from time.

Their best were flanker DJ Waiwai, second-five Adam Irimiha and prop Hikurangi Tichborne. Kias' best were No8 Bertus Mulder, lock Kingsley Teppett and midfielder Scott Curry.

At Bill Brown Park: Kia Toa 27 (Scott Curry, Jarreau Puohotaua, Tevita Taufui, Bertus Mulder, tries; Curry 2 con, pen) Linton Army 21 (Grant Robson 2 tries; Adrian Curry con, 3 pen) HT 15-6.

Te Kawau 60 Freyberg 26

A below-strength Te Kawau scored nine tries to three without lock Michael Fitzgerald, centre Asaeli Tikoirotuma and with Turbos flanker Doug Tietjens at second-five.

The forwards matched each other early in the first spell but Te Kawau scored three tries from Freys' mistakes in the first half, the first after only two minutes. Te Kawau had too much ball, their scrum got better as the game wore on and Asalemo Malo helped himself to four tries.

Freys' best were lock Josh Mackey, No8 Eliki Gavidi, flanker Junior Tunufai and Salusalu, who often punctured Te Kawau's midfield.

At Colquhoun Park: Te Kawau 60 (Asalemo Malo 4, Lee Murray 2, Volney Rouse, Bryce Hesselin, Jackson Wood, tries; Rouse 6 con, pen) Freyberg 26 (Junior Tunufai 2, Iliesa Salusalu, Rangi Matakatea, tries; Matakatea 3 con) HT 26-14.Varsity 24 Feilding 12

The students had done their business by halftime when leading 24-0 in the dry, before rain arrived and the ball became slippery.

They played it tight and dominated for the first half hour, led by flanker Callum Gibbins and a stronger lineout with Dan Fitzharris and Marty Stevenson.

Early in the second half, Varsity rolled on their subs and the game badly lost shape with the Wellington ref blowing his lungs out.

The wind switched, Feilding took over, won most of the ball and scored two late tries but time ran out for a genuine comeback.

They had former Manawatu rep Anthony Papenfus at first-five. Their standouts were loose forwards Mitchell Crosswell and Dylan Marino, second-five Paora Rakatau and fullback Harley Cribb.

At Massey University: Varsity 24 (Callum Gibbins, Rob Thompson, Avon Lewis, tries; Scott Davidson 3 con, pen) Feilding 12 (Mike Parr, Chris Willoughby, tries; Antony Papenfus con) HT 24-0.Old Boys-Marist 58 Dannevirke 27

OB-Marist had more fluidity in their midfield with Cassidy Jobe starring, Luke Stanley sharp at centre and Waisea Qiokata on the wing. They were a handful for Dannevirke, led 17-3 quickly then were up 41-10 at halftime, despite Shaun Curry missing plenty of goal kicks.

The tries came easily through slick drawing and passing, even though it was even up front, aside from Reece Robinson ruling the lineouts. OBM had injuries and subs were rolled which helped Dannevirke get up before OBM roared away at the end.

Also prominent for OBM were hooker Zac Stiven, flanker Sililo Sae and Adam Fisher with his tackling. Dannevirke got a four-tries bonus point. Their best were hooker Mark Walshe, lock Tony Mansell and halfback David Walshe while Dannevirke lost another prop, Brian Penn, with a dislocated shoulder from a tackle.

OB-Marist 58 (Waisea Qoikata 3, John Missen 2, Luke Stanley, Isaac Tupai, Bryce Grant, Dave Waru, Adam Fisher, tries; Shaun Curry 4 con) Dannevirke 27 (Johnny Sweetman 2, Blair Cooper, Santana Hauraki, tries; Brad Watson pen, 2 con) HT 41-10.

- © Fairfax NZ News