North Harbour 1st XV Report – 18 June 2016

The powerful tackling of Whangarei’s defensive line took its toll on Orewa this week during the eighth round of the 1st XV competition. Despite a closely contested first half concluding with Orewa ahead 6-0, Whangarei shocked Orewa’s home field support in the second half, running away with an overwhelming 42-18 victory.

In spite of the scoreline, the first half was thoroughly dominated by Orewa, their greater level of fitness enabling them to commit more numbers to the breakdown and force the easy turn over while Whangarei failed to make any significant ground as Orewa swarmed their offensive line. Eventually Orewa were rewarded for their efforts, with second-five Tom Jordon successfully converting two penalty kicks within Whangarei’s 22. Although, Orewa’s halfback Klay Murray made a tenacious effort to create more scoring opportunities, performing grubber kicks and “back door” passes, the team struggled to accomplish anything more in the first half against a monstrous defensive line. Despite being on the back foot for most of the half, Whangarei’s blind-side flanker Matt Harrison and No.8 Wiremu Greig fronted an impenetrable stronghold, devastating Orewa’s offence with powerful tackles. The team’s dynamic defence began to take its toll on Orewa in the latter stages of the half, as their offence slowed and the tide began to turn.

Orewa entered the second half a different team, having succumbed to the superior size and strength of Whangarei in the first. Their lack of tenacity widened the field for Whangarei to score straight away, with halfback Tukaha Wihongi dotting down under the posts within the first two minutes of the half. Soon after, Orewa suffered the loss of key player halfback Klay Murray through injury which proved to be a significant loss for the team. The running strength of Whangarei’s first-five Scott Gregory, fullback Jayden Leupepe, and Wiremu Grieg dominated the second half, with each player powering through Orewa’s dismantled defense.   Winger Euan Sapwell also demonstrated an amazing running game, performing the match’s greatest single act of brilliance, kicking a grubber down the sideline from forty metres out, recovering the ball and running around his opposition to score a try in the right hand corner. Scott Gregory performed flawlessly with the boot, successfully converting all six of his team’s tries. Although Orewa fought back to score two tries late in the game, the damage had well and truly been done, with Whangarei winning 42-18.

In the other 1A fixtures, Westlake overwhelmed Rangitoto 49-7, Massey were too good for Birkenhead 45-3 and Rosmini comfortably beat Takapuna 20-3.  In the mid-week fixture held 15 June deferred from week 3, Rosmini defeated Massey in a close encounter 19-11.  There is now a clear top 4 in the first week of the second round.  In the 25 June fixtures, Takapuna host Rangitoto in the match of the week, Westlake play Birkenhead at home, Orewa travel to Massey and Rosmini take the road trip to Whangarei.

1A Points: Westlake 39, Rosmini 34, Massey 29, Whangarei 24, Rangitoto 13, Takapuna 8, Orewa 8, Birkenhead 1.

Open B played their last fixtures of round 1 before splitting up into the 1B and 1C divisions.  In the Cardinal Pool Mahurangi 1^st XV defeated Kristin 1^st XV 27-17 mid-week in front a big crowd at Warkworth.   Massey 2^nd XV put away Whangaparaoa 1^st XV 38-19 and Westlake 2^nd XV defeated Glenfield 1^st XV by default.  In the Cardinal Pool, Long Bay 1^st XV edged Rangitoto 2^nd XV 14-11, Rosmini 2^nd XV were a try better than Kaipara 1^st XV  winning 21-14 and Northcote 1^st XV thumped Albany 1^st XV 45-5.  For the 25 June fixtures, the 1B division will comprise of Mahurangi 1^st XV, Westlake 2^nd XV, Kristin 1^st XV, Rosmini 2^nd XV Northcote 1^st XV Long Bay 1^st XV and, the  1C will be Massey 2^nd XV,  Whangaparaoa 1^st XV,  Rangitoto 2^nd XV Kaipara 1^st XV and Albany 1^st XV.  Glenfield 1^st XV will drop to the 2^nd Grade.

Open B points:   Cardinal Pool – Mahurangi 1^st XV 22, Westlake 2^nd XV 19, Kristin 1^st XV 15, Massey 2^nd XV  10, Whangaparaoa 1^st XV 5 and Glenfield 1^st XV 0.

White Pool - Rosmini 2^nd XV 22, Northcote 1^st XV 20, Long Bay 1^st XV 14, Rangitoto 2^nd XV 10, Kaipara 1^st XV 8 and Albany 1^st XV 0.

By Trey Tupu-South (Westlake BHS)