Top teams pile on the points

BOUNCING BACK: Stuart Leach reaches out to score one of his six tries for Paikea Whalers against the Ngatapa Stags on Saturday. The Whalers, who lost the previous week, won 118-0. Picture by Paul Rickard

RUGBY LEAGUE

TWO top Gisborne-Tairawhiti rugby league teams have piled on the points, underlining their credentials for the club title.

Paikea Whalers bounced back from a loss by putting Ngatapa Stags to the sword at Awapuni Stadium on Saturday, winning 118-0.

Waengapu Stallions, who beat the Whalers the previous week, carried on their good form by defeating Turanga Panthers 76-16.

The Whalers, the 2018 champions, had some of their young guns back — Moses Christie, TK Reihana, Stuart Leach and Thomas Brown — and Foli Waru made his debut.

Leach scored six tries.

Ngatapa Stags went close to getting on the scoreboard but the Whalers’ defence held firm.

The Stallions were too good for the Panthers, with captain Dylan Williams leading from the front and playmaker Brad Kiwara setting up many of their tries.

Player-coach Jay Casey said their standout younger players were Seth Lundon and Hunter Tangira.

Tangira and Williams both scored a hat-trick of tries.

The Panthers had some of their own positive moments on attack in the second half.

Nick Barbarich, Israel Ngauamo and Fabian Miller scored tries for the Panthers.

On Saturday afternoon, Manutuke Mustangs play Turanga Panthers at 1pm and Seeka Falcons play Ngatapa Stags at 2.30pm.

Paikea Whalers and Waengapu Stallions have the bye.