Nelson & Marist too strong

Nelson Mail

Marist and Nelson secured massive wins although Riwaka earned an unexpected reprieve as the countdown to the Car Company Nelson Bays division one rugby playoffs continues.

Wakatu Marist over-ran Accessman Stoke 48-3 at Trafalgar Park on Saturday, while Galbraith Nelson kept Enza Riwaka scoreless for the second consecutive week with a comfortable 51-0 win at Neale Park. That result should have been enough to bury Riwaka's playoff hopes, but they remain in the hunt, now four points adrift of fourth-placed Stables Waimea Old Boys, after New World Huia held Waimea to a shock 13-all draw in Motueka.

Waimea had a late chance to win the match, but Phil Gibson's final conversion attempt to lock Masa Toyota's potentially match-winning try hit the posts.

Huia were reduced to 14 men for around 55 minutes of the contest after No8 Warren Stephens was red-carded during the first half, his sinbinning for a first-half scuffle escalating after he allegedly spat at one of the officials.

Huia had led 10-3 at the break following a first-half try to centre Ryan Bolton, midfielder Mike Wells adding the conversion and a penalty to a solitary first-half penalty success by Letham.

Still without a win this season, Huia produced a competitive first-half effort, fortified by the arrival of Tasman representative prop Fai Mika, who provided admirable leadership against his former Waimea clubmates.

James Mei and Dan Crowther were also prominent in Huia's forward effort, with Bolton, Wells and Brenton Krammer proving the impetus among the backs.

But down a man, Huia were forced to dig in defensively after the break as a try to fullback James Lowe and finally to Toyota got Waimea to within a hair's breadth of victory.

Huia also had late chances to win, a Wells penalty attempt just dropping beneath the bar and tryscoring opportunities to both teams squandered through spilt balls.

Waimea's attempts to run the ball at the expense of territorial security proved costly. Prop Sam Prattley worked tirelessly in Waimea's forward effort.

Marist 48 Stoke 3 Marist scored seven tries, five of them in the first half, to eventually overwhelm Stoke, whose only response was a solitary first-half penalty success to halfback Shawn Begg.

Marist quickly jumped to a 13-0 lead after just 12 minutes, with fullback George Westenra scoring their opening two tries, before Stoke settled into a period of territorial dominance which saw them mount consistent pressure on Marist's line. Marist's defence stood up admirably to repel everything Stoke threw at them.

The danger averted, Marist ended the half with another scoring flourish as tries to first five-eighth James Proctor, flanker Liam Squire and a spectacular 22m dash by prop Matt Muollo helped push Marist to a 32-3 halftime lead.

Marist added only two further tries after the break, both to midfielder Kieran Fonotia who, by then, had moved out a place to centre. A second-half reshuffle created some loss of cohesion in the Marist side although, by that stage, there was nothing Stoke could do to save the match.

No8 Mark Bright ran the ball strongly and helped to control much of Marist's attack, while Squire was central to Marist's outstanding defensive effort. Hooker Francis Smith continued his excellent form with another powerful display.

Rudolf Meredith added solidity to Marist's midfield as a second-half replacement, while Fonotia capped a strong effort with his two tries.

Tevita Koloamatangi impressed in a losing Stoke effort, with midfielder Sione Holani's usual attacking form blunted by Marist's aggressive defence.

Nelson 51 Riwaka 0

Nelson also scored seven tries in brushing aside Riwaka's challenge at Neale Park.

Ironically, though, they scored only two of those tries, to lock Willis Scott and No8 Jake Cooley, during a period of almost complete territorial dominance during the first half. Although Nelson attacked constantly in the first half, dogged Riwaka defence and plenty of Nelson handling errors helped keep the scoreline to just 16-0 at the break.

It was when Nelson's backs finally began to cut loose in the second half that Riwaka's defence eventually began to disintegrate.

Further tries to first five-eighth James Marshall, from a 35m intercept, flanker Mitchell Thwaites, fullback Robbie Malneek, a second to Cooley and finally to prop James Hadfield at the end of the chain saw the scoreline mount beyond Riwaka's control. Malneek sparked a lot of Nelson's attacking play, with Marshall also directing proceedings both with ball in hand and with some taunting kicks.

Riwaka got their hands on the ball much more frequently during the second half to help alleviate some of their previous defensive pressure. However, Nelson's defence was strong and Riwaka's attack lacked the penetration needed to capitalise on their increased second-half possession.

Locks Shane Grieve and Scott maintained solid work rates in Nelson's forward effort, while loosies Mitchell Thwaites and Cooley also had strong games.

Prop Craig Moore returned from a seven-match suspension to make a significant contribution.