Rugby: Metro colts at meaty end of competition

St Johns Club Whanganui Metro are rapidly making a name for themselves as comeback kings and finding the line late for victory. Photo / Stuart Munro

The match-up between St Johns Club Whanganui Metro and Massey White at Cooks Gardens on Saturday will be crucial acting as the dummy run for the Manawatu McDonald's Colts competition final.

With its depth from the massive Massey University player pool, Massey White has won the competition for the past four years on end and until pool play this year had not even dropped a game in pool play over the same period.

However, The Metro colts have come close and have let victory slide from their grasp rather than Massey White dominating. Metro has also not had the luxury of a full bench on most occasions this season or last, while Massey enjoys a full complement.

Metro sit at the top of the leader board after two matches in round two of the competition with 9 points, while Old Boys Marist is second on 8 points despite a win and a loss courtesy of two bonus points. Massey White is on 5 points, but with the bye last weekend has played one less game.

Last weekend Metro again showed courage coming from behind to beat a useful full complement Feilding side 22-14.

"We were on attack but just couldn't cross their line most of the first half and shortly before the half time whistle Feilding scored against the run of play," said Darryl Malcolm who co-coaches Metro alongside Carl Gibson.

"They caught us napping while we awaited the half time whistle during a breakdown. Just goes to show the old rule still applies - play to the whistle," Malcolm said.

The 7-nil scoreline at the break prompted some stern words from the coaches and it appeared to be working in the second spell.

"We were again hard on attack, but couldn't cross. We struggled to turn it into points although we kicked a penalty just half time. Then Cajun Botica scored for us on the wing to make it 8-7 to us.

"Unfortunately, they bounced back with another runaway try against the run of play and we were back to 14-8 down until our fullback James Dorgan crossed for us and converted it to place us 15-14 ahead."

Malcolm said his Metro lads continued to threaten until reserve lock Bradley O'Leary burst over under the posts allowing for an easy Dorgan conversion and a 22-14 scoreline.

"Like other teams in the competition apart from us Feilding had depth and a full strength side. We only had three reserves and it's been that way for many of our games.

He sinlged out captain and openside flanker George Forster for special mention, although Lachie Steedman (lock) was also mentioned in dispatches.

"George just ran all day long, while Lochie stole at least 50 percent of their ball in the lineouts. Hopefully we will have a full squad this weekend to front up against Massey White. I was amazed at the level of support we last weekend - it was a game for everyone. I'm glad we are playing at Cooks Gardens this weekend - it's a great venue," Malcolm said.

With the competition reduced to just five teams for round two, there will be no semi-final this season.

"It will be the top team against the second team and that is looking very much us and Massey White on July 22, so this weekend's match is a dry run of the likely final."