Auckland Rugby 2022
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University 25 Grammar Tech 15
Halftime 15-15Despite what had been a predominantly wet day in Auckland we were fortune enough to have got through 80 minutes without to much precipitation in what proved to be an excellent contest between the 2 unbeaten teams Grammar Tech who had the home advantage against the top of the table University team.
The ground at Orakei Domain in reasonable knick despite weather .The home side Grammar Tech took first use of a wind which was blowing more across the field than down the ground
The home side were the first to score after 7 minutes , impressive openside Sam Hainsworth Fa’aofo intercepted a University pass and sprinted 40 metres to touch down under the sticks , Alex Ropeti adding the extrasUniversity were the next to score after a brilliant break by skipper Te Ariki Te Puni , the hooker doing well to find Lock Jonny Neary who showed his sharp turn of speed to touch down in the corner .
On 19 minutes Alex Ropeti would knock over a penalty to push G-Tech back out 10-5 , for the next few minutes University looked to be getting the better of the contest , but they would gift another intercept try to Mils Burns who showed good pace to outflank the cover from 40 metres out .
On the half hour mark Tyrone Elkington slotted an excelkent penalty from distance to close the game up to 15-8 G-Tech
Just when it looked like the home team would go into half leading it would a great bit of individual brilliance from lock Kalin Felise who would break a tackle off a short pass throw a dummy and gallop over 50 metres to touch down., Elkington adding the extras 15 a piece at the breakIt would take the visitors less than 5 minutes in the 2nd half to add their 3rd try , from a rock solid scrum Impressive number 8 Uini Fetalaiga doing enough to attract the defence and send halfback Henry Saker over from close range ,Elkington adding the extras
Despite the visitors dominating field position in the 2nd half , it would be a 2nd Tyrone Elkington pen with 10 minutes to go that would close out the win .
Both sides threw the ball around in the closing minutes , both searching for a bonus point , but alas it was’nt to be for both sidesA very impressive win from Varsity who played with the added motivation of 2 of their more senior players Jonny Neary and Tyrone Elkington playing their 50th caps respectively .
There were plenty of individual performances that took they eye, but none more than the University pack as a collective standing up to what was a big Gramnar Tech pack ..Saker and Elkington keeping the ball in front of their forwards .
Like the look of young loose forward Will Bason and i thought with Auckland coach Alama Ieremia on hand University skipper Te Ariki Te Puni and Kalin Felise would give the Auckland head coach something to think about.For Grammar Tech , who lost both locks Liam Hallam Eames and Boston Schuster during the 2nd half , none tried harder than looseforward Sam Hainsworth Fa’aofo who stood in for injured skipper Zackary Patai and 2nd five Alex Ropeti who looked one of the more dangerous home backs
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Anyone know if Scrafton is sticking around for the NPC?
Could be a pretty good team this year if Tuipulotu and Hodgman are available.
1 Hodgman
2 Vikena
3 Renata
4 Scrafton
5 Tuipulotu
6 Gibson
7 Choat
8 Ekuasi9 Funaki
10 Plummer
11 Rayasi
12 Evans
13 Heem
14 Lam
15 Sullivan16 Apisai
17 Lay/Fusitua
18 Lay/Ahio
19 Lane/Beere/Kalapu
20 Sititi/Sione Tuipulotu
21 Wye/Paea
22 McKenzie
23 KataMight see Gibson on the bench, to add another ball carrier to the starting XV.
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Has there been any update on when Plummer is ready to play again?
If not, it will be interesting to see if Auckland agrees with the Blues rankings and picks McKenzie at 10 ahead of Sullivan
How bad was Tanielu Tele’a's injury? Will he be ok for the NPC?
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This guy posts highlights from University games:
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Round 9 Goodyear Tyres Auckland Premier mens club Rugby
Happy Matariki ki te whanau o Tāmaki Makaurau Whutupōro
Just the 2 games played on the Friday Matariki long weekend and boy were they important games with all 4 teams either trying to either secure their place in the top 4 or basically trying to force their way into the top 4
The visitors Pakuranga would outscore the hosts Grammar Tech in the 2nd half in this closely contested fixture played at Orakei Domain , despite the efforts of the visitors in the 2nd 40 it would be the home side Grammar Tech who would bank an important 4 points to hold on to that important 4th place on the table.
I will update this report with more detail tomorrowI headed off to College Rifles Park for what would be an intense contest between the visitors University who were looking to bounce back after what was a shock loss to Papatoetoe last week and the home side College Rifles who were desperately looking for a win to crack into the top 4
This game would go right down to the wire with College Rifles electing to kick to the corner after a penalty was called and go for the win as opposed to kicking for the poles and walking away with what would have been a draw and 2 points
Unfortunately for the home team their lineout which had been solid throughout the game faltered at the last hurdle which handed Varsity a victory that looked far more comfortable when they lead 25 -17 with several minutes leftRifles started the best of the 2 teams ,big number 8 Ben Sau finding the defence a little thin on the blindside in the first 10 minutes
However it would be standout Varsity prop Lui Morel showing some outrageous power from close range who would touch down twice in the space 5 minutes who would turn the momentum the students way , Elkington adding a conversion and penalty to extend the lead to 15-7 in favour of the visitorsWhilst Rifles did not start the season well ,they however showed why they have improved to the point where they are just sitting outside the top 4, on the back of some good kicking in the last 5 minutes , home lock Don LoLo would cross over from close range and first five Ross McKay would knock over a penalty from distance to give Rifles an unlikely 17-15 halftime lead .
It took almost 20 minutes in the 2nd half before Varsity first five Tyrone Elkington knock over a penalty to regain the lead before replacement winger Brody Lam would deliver what would prove to be these decisive blow picking off a stray Rifles pass and scampering 70 metres to touch down under the posts .
Despite a late try from the home side which set up a grandstand finish it would be the visitors University who would pick up 4 valuable points that keeps on top of the table.For the Varsity ,some big games from all the tight five ,all willing ball carriers and probably just holding the edge at scrum time
Lui Morel with a game to remember, starting halfback Isileli Fetalaiga was everywhere and very vocal whilst fullback Samuel Aitken hardly put a foot wrong with a classy showingFor the home side ,none tried harder than number 8 Ben Sau who always carried hard into contact ,locks Don LoLo and Ezrah Kapeteni also featured both at line out and around the paddock
Cody Mitchell at halfback looks a player of promise with an exceptionally quick pass and I also thought Dylan Moon was rock solid at fullbackFinal score College Rifles 22 University 25
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Just a footnote on this report I could not post this on a public forum
Cody Mitchell the College Rifles halfback must have the quickest bullet like pass I have not seen in a very long time .
Heading to Christchurch to survey his options ..🤔
