First XV report - 30 June

North Harbour 1^st XV Report – 30 July 2016

By Trey Tupu-South, Westlake BHS

Westlake’s captain Jack Heighton and second-five Fine Inisi performed formidably this week, during the twelfth round of the North Harbour 1st XV competition, leading their team to a convincing 27-5 win over Massey.   Heighton exhibited a great rugby brain by setting up all three of his teams tries in the first half whilst Inisi lead the teams running metres and shares the team’s top try scoring numbers with Jack Fuller, securing two tries each.

Despite Massey’s strong performance against Rosmini last week, Westlake’s relentless attack and signature ability to generate points out of thin air saw the team runaway with a relatively overwhelming victory.   Westlake year 12 student Casey Smith debuted as starting half back and Heighton out of his regular position, playing at first-five. This duo performed powerfully together, with Smith delivering fast ball and allowing Heighton a greater amount of time and space to run the offence.   Heighton capitalized early on and demonstrated great awareness by sending a grubber through Massey’s flat backline for Fine Inisi to recover and score the team’s first try of the game, ten minutes in. Although Westlake were forced to play without powerhouse forward Lotu Inisi this week due to injury, the teams forward pack remained dominant at the set piece and breakdown area. The team exhibited superior fitness by committing more numbers to the break down area and forcing momentum, in their favour.   Heighton set-up the second try of the match off the back of a ruck by sending a great miss-pass and opening up a hole for blindside flanker Tupou Afungia to run through in the right hand corner. After a dropped ball from the kick off, Massey managed to enter Westlake’s 22 for the first time twenty-five minutes into the match. Massey were eventually rewarded for their efforts with a penalty kick twenty metres out and in front of the posts, however the kick was wide of the posts. Despite Massey’s best attempts to stop the scoring of Westlake’s backline, Heighton set up one final try in the first half, exhibiting amazing skill by stepping and spinning out of three tackles before performing a backdoor pass to winger Jack Fuller who took the ball under the posts to score and set up Westlake’s only successful conversion of the match. Westlake entered the second half with a comfortable 17-0 lead.

Westlake started the second half with a similar dominance shown in the first.   Beginning with Fine Inisi grubbering the ball behind Massey’s backline for Jack Fuller to dive on in the right hand corner. Cross field kicking remained a pivotal part of Westlake’s offence throughout the game and lead to many try scoring opportunities.   Left winger Ariki Hood-Kaitapu stepped up in the second half and showcased blistering speed as well as precise chip kicking, chasing and collecting his own kicks down the left sideline on a number of occasions and was unlucky not to score. Toward the end of the second half Massey’s offense intensified and the team managed to develop momentum of their own through the running strength of their mid field runners, centre Alex Tavita and second five Sebastian Tielu. After a number of pick and go’s left winger Dave Pulelaila managed to muscle over in the left hand corner and secure Massey’s first points of the game. Although any idea of a Massey come back was quickly silenced by Westlake’s Fine Inisi after he ran fifty metres down the field and ultimately set up his second try and the last one of the game. 

In the other fixtures Rosmini fresh from their South Island tour thumped Birkenhead 92-0, Orewa reversed the first round result to beat Takapuna 13-5 and Rangitoto on their home track edged Whangarei BHS 20-17.  Orewa forfeited the deferred 29 June mid-week fixture to give Westlake a default win.  The final games of the second round will see Takapuna host Westlake, Massey at home to Rangitoto in the match of the week, Birkenhead travel to Whangarei and Rosmini play Orewa at home. 

1A Points: Westlake 59, Rosmini 57, Massey 45, Rangitoto 32, Whangarei 30, Orewa 16, Takapuna 14 and Birkenhead 2.

On the 1B division, Northcote 1^st XV edged Rosmini 2^nd XV 22-20, Mahurangi  1^st XV beat Westlake 2^nd XV 24-15 and Long Bay 1^st XV were too good for Kristin 1^st XV winning 17-8.  In the 1C grade, Whangaparaoa 1^st XV beat Albany 1^st XV 17-8, Massey 2^nd XV defeated Rangitoto 2^nd XV 18-3 and Kaipara 1^st XV had the bye.

1B Points: Mahurangi 11, Westlake 2^nd XV 9, Rosmini 2^nd XV 9, Northcote 8, Long Bay 4 and Kristin 1.

1C Points: Massey 2^nd XV 13, Kaipara 9, Whangaparaoa 5, Rangitoto 2^nd XV 1 and Albany 0.