Greerton Marist winger Tino Nemani makes a break against Te Puke Sports on Saturday. Photo/Supplied, Ron Pearson
Greerton Marist winger Tino Nemani makes a break against Te Puke Sports on Saturday. Photo/Supplied, Ron Pearson
Te Puke Sports stretched their lead at the top of the Bayfair Baywide table after a comprehensive 28-6 victory over Greerton Marist at Murray Salt Stadium on Saturday.
Greerton arrived in Te Puke confident they could topple the leaders after a first-ever win over Tauranga last week. They had thegusty wind at their backs in the first half but were unable to make full use of it or the truckload of ball their hard-working pack laid on.
The battle of the teenagers at first-five was one of the pointers to look for in the match, with both Te Puke's Dan Hollinshead, 18, and Greerton's Tim O'Malley, 19, selected for the Steamers trial in Te Puke next month. But neither player was at his best. Hollinshead started slowly after missing three matches with a thigh strain but improved as the game developed, while O'Malley missed touch from penalties and two very important, kickable kicks for goal in the first spell.
The game lacked attacking opportunities in the opening stanza, as Japan's international referee Aki Aso, warming up for the IRB Junior World Championship, whistled a merry tune of penalties from the fiercely contested tackled-ball areas.
The upshot was Greerton led by just 6-0 at the break, which was never going to be enough against a tough Te Puke pack that loves nothing more than a second half comeback to get their teeth into. They took control from the kick-off, waving away the chance to kick for goal and were rewarded when lock and captain Tim Bond burst over by the posts.
Fresh legs for Te Puke from the bench paid instant dividends after 55 minutes with Declan Barnett making a clean break, before he linked with Jono Kitto. Two phases later 18-year-old prop Aidan Ross crashed over. Hollinshead converted to stretch out Te Puke's lead to 14-6 and Greerton struggled to exert any pressure into the strong wind, apart from an occasional charge from wingers Tino Nemani and Andrew Boyd.
Referee Aso proved his capabilities throughout, taking firm control of what threatened to spill out of control at stages. He sent one player from each team to the bin and showed excellent judgement in awarding a penalty try to Te Puke after repeated and cynical infringements on their goal line by Greerton.
That made it 21-6 and game over but there was time for Ross to claim his second try.
