Marist and Waimea make early running
Marist and Waimea Old Boys racked up 50 points as they set the early running in the Stuff Tasman Trophy at the weekend.
It’s set the scene for a mouth-watering clash when the two teams meet on Trafalgar Park on April 24 when the club rugby competition resumes after the Easter break.
As well as being a top-of-the-table clash the John Goodman Trophy and the Monopoli Cup will also be on the line.
Elsewhere, Central gained some payback for last year’s final loss to Kahurangi, beating the visitors in Blenheim for their first win.
Stoke 21 Marist 54
Saturday’s win for Marist secured the John Goodman Challenge Trophy for the first time, and also ensured the Baz Leary Cup stayed with the club for another year.
It was the green and black forward pack that set the foundations at Greenmeadows, allowing the backs to create some magic.
Very good up front for Marist were rookie flankers Linton Laiseni and Teina Thompson, while the front row of Hendre Laubscher, Luke Collier and Teu Sami worked hard all afternoon.
Out wide, winger Rylee Samuela continues to impress along with first five Cooper Grant and fullback Luke Kilworth. Centre Timi Sauira celebrated his 25th premier game with a brace of tries.
Nelson 35 Waimea Old Boys 50
Waimea continued their unbeaten start, but not before Nelson showed it was a much improved proposition this season.
The country’s oldest rugby club nosed in front early in the second half at Trafalgar Park, but Waimea’s fitness and fresh legs off the bench saw them click into gear in the final quarter.
Waimea coach Scott McKenzie said front rower Tom Haywood put in a mammoth 80-minute effort, and blindside flanker Harry Horncastle, in his first year out of Waimea Combined Schools, also impressed.
For Nelson, fullback Fletcher Hewitt-Smart was always dangerous, particularly from broken play.
McKenzie was now turning his sights to the Marist clash that would be a huge test.
Central 46 Kahurangi 29
On paper it was a rematch of last year’s final when Kahurangi won their first title. But with both sides rebuilding after losing multiple players there was a much different look to the clash.
On a sunny afternoon at Blenheim’s Lansdowne Park, the home team took control late in the first half, and kept Kahurangi at arm’s length in the second.
Central player coach Quentin MacDonald, in his 18th premier season, said it was important to get a win after the heavy opening loss to Marist.
He said among the young players who stood out on Saturday were No 10 Leo Marfell, fresh from Marlborough Boys College and openside flanker Jack Kelly.
By Warren Gamble, Nelson Mail
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