Teams set for playoffs ‘practice run’

MEETING THE DEFENCE: Shyann Wyllie charges ahead for the Manutuke Mustangs against Turanga Panthers last weekend. Picture by Paul Rickard

The top four teams in the Gisborne Tairawhiti rugby league competition will get a practice run at finals footy on Saturday.

As the playoffs near, the well-organised Waengapu Stallions will play the dangerous Manutuke Mustangs at 1pm and last year’s finalists the Paikea Whalers and Central Falcons will clash at 2.30pm.

Falcons coach George Tanirau said the Whalers were tough opponents and a hit-out against them before the playoffs would be invaluable.

“Any win against the Whalers is a good thing,” he said.

“A loss would be a learning curve. They’re always a hard team.”

The Falcons defeated Ngatapa Stags 60-20 at Awapuni Stadium last weekend.

Tanirau said standoff Hayden Stuart led by example on the left side of the field and Turupa Green was strong at loose forward.

Tanirau said the Stags, on the wrong end of a big score-line the previous week, put in a better showing on Saturday.

“They really gave it to us in parts of the game when they scored their points.”

The Mustangs beat Turanga Panthers 84-14.

Mustangs prop and captain Shayde Skudder said the club’s younger players continued to “stand up for us”.

“They’re all having fun, so they just do what they do and it comes natural to them.”

Shyann Wyllie, Lewis Fleming, Te Peehi Fairlie and Mike Saddlier were among the standout players.

“The boys just play as a team and enjoy themselves and this week’s game will be big.”

Skudder said they would be a threat against the Stallions if they continued to tackle hard and throw the ball around.

The Stallions have been one of the form teams but they’re coming off a bye. The Whalers also had a bye last weekend.

The top four have been decided, but Tanirau said the Stags and Panthers (set to play off for fifth and sixth) contributed to the competition.

“They never gave up at any stage. Both teams had heart.”