Vipers lock William Schusler spies one of many gaps in the Northern Swords defence on Sunday. Photo/Bevan Conley
Vipers lock William Schusler spies one of many gaps in the Northern Swords defence on Sunday. Photo/Bevan Conley
Both the local boys got on the scoresheet as the Central Vipers continued their improved season in the Pirtek NZRL National Premiership with a 74-16 hammering of the Northern Swords at Cooks Gardens on Sunday afternoon.
The Vipers - the Central Rugby League squad which represents Hawke's Bay, Taranaki, Manawatuand Wanganui in the seven-team competition - had their second win after also beating the Wellington Orcas a fortnight ago.
They were winless in 2013 and beating the Swords in this manner represented a 76-point improvement from last year, not to mention the fact the Vipers' corresponding 2013 Cooks Gardens game was lost to the Orcas 42-4.
Whanganui Boxon centre Che Barlow was back from injury on Sunday and scored two of his team's 14 tries, while his clubmate and prop Gordon Karaitiana also got a four-pointer.
In their other two matches, they narrowly lost to the Canterbury Bulls 18-12 in New Plymouth, and suffered a heavy 60-0 defeat to the top side Counties Manukau Stingrays in Papakura on September 7.
The Vipers have a bye this weekend, then face the Wai-Coa-Bay Stallions in Rotorua on September 28, followed by the Akarana Falcons in New Plymouth on October 11.
