NUMBERS DOWN: St Johns Club Wanganui Metro is limping to the semi-finals of the Manawatu McDonald's Colts division rugby championship after injury and suspensions have dogged the team in recent weeks.
NUMBERS DOWN: St Johns Club Wanganui Metro is limping to the semi-finals of the Manawatu McDonald's Colts division rugby championship after injury and suspensions have dogged the team in recent weeks.
The two Whanganui-based sides in the Manawatu McDonald's Colts division rugby championship are right in the hunt for semi-final spots with three matches to play in the Top 6 competition.
The Wanganui High School 1st XV is tied on 8 points at the top of the table with defending championsMassey White, while the St Johns Club Metro Colts are limping to the semi-finals in third on 5 points.
Old Boys Marist Cafe Cuba Lightning Dolphins looks likely to fill the fourth spot in the semi-final with 4 points. Old Boys Marist Fitzherbert Rowe Colts are on zero points, while Massey Ag is on -2 after several defaults.
WHS had a convincing 28-10 win over Marist Fitzherbert Rowe on Saturday, while Metro suffered an unfortunate 25-19 loss to Massey White. Carl Gibson, who co-coaches Metro alongside Darryl Malcolm, said they were struggling to field a full complement of players on Saturdays with injuries and suspensions reducing numbers.
"It wasn't a bad game last Saturday. Massey White has not been beaten for a very long time, although both times we've played them this season we've managed to get within 7 points," Gibson said yesterday.
"We are struggling to have 15 or 16 available on Saturday at the moment and that makes it pretty difficult against such a strong side with a full list of replacements. Our main focus now has to be making the top four and then regroup and I'm confident we can achieve that." Meanwhile, WHS manager Richard Bennett praised his players after injury struck against Marist Fitzherbert Rowe on Saturday. "It was a very good win, especially after a couple of our forwards had to step up after injuries to some in the backline," Bennett said. "Brayden Maua, who usually plays No8 and scored a try in that position in the first half, went on to the wing in the second spell and did very well. We had other changes too, including loose forward Chris Brewer who moved to lock. Our aim is to make the semi-finals and take it from there." WHS was runner-up to Massey White in last season's championship. Both Whanganui side travel to Palmerston North this weekend where Metro take on Marist Fitzherbert Rowe and WHS tackle the Dolphins.
