Round 7 BayleysTasman Trophy results
Galbraith Group Nelson and Wakatu Hotel Marist had already qualified for the interprovincial club final with Saturday's last round of pool play to spare. Nelson still secured a bonus point win in their 29-7 win over a feisty Waitohi at Picton, although Marist needed a try to No8 Liam Squire with just two minutes remaining to finally secure a tight 26-19 win over Enza Riwaka.
Squire scored all three Marist tries in a fine individual second-half effort by the rangy loosie after Riwaka had led 16-9 at halftime.
A try to lock Ben Sadrugu midway through the first half had helped push Riwaka to a 10-3 lead, also emphasising the hard work of a competitive Riwaka pack as Marist struggled to make any real first-half headway.
They stayed in touch through the boot of No10 Jason Merrett as winger Andy Beatson replied in kind for Riwaka to give them their seven-point lead at the interval.
Two tries by Squire inside 16 minutes of the restart eventually edged Marist ahead 19-16 before a Beatson penalty again levelled the scores at 19-all.
Then, with time virtually up, an angled 25m run by Squire behind the posts finally secured the win, also giving Marist four crucial Nelson Bays championship points.
Riwaka's forwards competed strongly at the breakdowns and scrambled effectively in defence whenever Marist threatened to break clear, forcing errors and frustrating Marist's attempts to move the ball in an often scrappy encounter.
Nelson 29 Waitohi 7
Nelson also had to work for their pool A bonus point victory at Picton, despite comfortably outscoring home team Waitohi by five tries to one.
First five-eighth James Lash scored three of them, including both Nelson's second-half tries, although Waitohi's defensive intensity and a competitive forward pack meant Nelson were always on their guard in a competitive fixture.
Nelson led 17-7 at the break following first-half tries to No12 Andrew Goodman, winger Vai Asomua-Goodman and to Lash, with Waitohi's new English prop Aaron Doignie eventually scoring after their forwards had worked the ball through 28 phases.
Waitohi never scored again as Lash added his two second-half tries to complete another handy Nelson win.
There was little respite for Nelson's pack against a fired-up Waitohi forward unit in which both No8s, Nelson's Shane Christie and Waitohi's Manu Mataele, played significant roles.
Nelson lock James Foster was also prominent in an otherwise even forward contest, Nelson's edge coming through a more clinical backline and better finishing.
Wanderers 61 Harlequins 19
If beaten coach Graeme Hiku is looking for one word to describe this meltdown, it might be attitude.
The opening 15 minutes gave no indication that anything other than a really good contest was in prospect.
Harlequins tore into their work, led by No8 Stu Dalzell, prop Tim Perry and hooker Simon Muir, backed up by slick play from halfback Daniel MacDonald.
MacDonald's quick thinking set up a try for George Millar then lock Brodie Logan finished a super move.
Wanderers got one try back through lock Lealoha Musika and a penalty goal to Jackson Harvey, but the Quins hit back when Dalzell detached from a 5m scrum and powered over.
But that was it from the home team.
Wanderers ramped up the pressure and scored 53 unanswered points, running in tries at will during the second half as the visitors dominated most facets of play, particularly the breakdown where turnovers produced several tries.
MacDonald and Dalzell were the pick of a well-beaten side, while for Wanderers, their loose-forward trio of Dan Perrin, Niu Taufa and Loa Windley impressed as did halfback Harvey and wingers Riley and Ethan Johnston.
WOB 44 Moutere 13
It has not been a great season for Moutere so far and it did not get any better on Saturday as they were out-muscled up front by a big and skilful Nelson-based team.
Coaches Steve Black, Andrew Large and Laurin Gane could not fault their team's endeavour but as Gane said: "They wore us down up front. Their big forwards ran at us and they were a bit too strong."
The match was not totally one-sided and the visitors only outscored Moutere four tries to two.
Standout performances for Moutere came from veteran No8 Blair Bavin, one of the shining lights all year.
Prop James Sutherland fronted up well and flanker Nathan Oakley was a standout.
Wing Regan Marshall had his moments and Jake Cresswell was Moutere's most effective attacker, making several line breaks.
Lock Tevita Cavubati and prop Sam Prattley headed an impressive WOB forward pack and first-five Josh Rutledge shone with 29 points, including a try.
Central 34 Huia 8
Central will take their third win of the Tasman Trophy, becoming Marlborough's best finishing team in pool A, but it could have been so much better if they had been able to hold on to the ball because the error rate from both teams was hideous.
Central always looked the superior team, but it took two late tries to put the issue beyond doubt.
Openside flanker Matt Gibson had a fine game until subbed on the hour, leading the tackle count and effective on attack, scoring the opening two tries.
Crusaders hooker Quentin MacDonald revelled at No6 and lock Daniel Crockett had a strong game.
In the backs, fullback Rawiri Tamati showed touches of brilliance, his second-half try a match highlight, as was the run which set up a try for wing Simi Volavola.
Props Vai Aukafolau and Brock Kaahu excelled with ball in hand and wing Iakopo Puletua scored a fine individual try for Huia.
Awatere's season was on the line in this one and they played accordingly, shutting Renwick out up front and finishing the job with four tries in their 33-12 win over Renwick at the Seddon Domain, appropriately all scored by the forwards.
