CLUB RUGBY: Varsity’s sky blues sounded a warning after they resoundingly snatched the remaining semifinal vacancy in Manawatū membership rugby on Saturday.
Their six-attempts-to-3 forty three-21 defeat of Feilding Old Boys-Oroua at Massey University bumped the protecting Hankins Shield champions into the Val Holland Trophy comfort.
Varsity has the firepower to maintain Centennial Shield winners College Old Boys wary in subsequent week’s knockout after prevailing five games at the trot. Their come-from-at the back of streak emulated FOBO’s purge to the remaining championship year.
From the begin, hooker Nick Grogan understood to have been dried to the Turbos, stormed through gaps as if the season depended on it. Which it did, and early in the 2nd 1/2 the Stags could not contain him or his crew-mates.”We’re looking ahead to an impressive semi in opposition to College,” Grogan stated. “We had a bit of a losing dependency on the start, and commonly we button off right now of the season. We’re beginning to believe in ourselves now.”
An ANZ Bank rural manager, he has been a part of the Manawatū high-performance squad all yr after missing maximum of the closing season with anterior cruciate ligament damage.
“It’s three hundred and sixty-five days after surgical operation now; the knee is feeling right,” Grogan said.
Meanwhile, Varsity’s forwards towered over FOBO’s who could simplest salvage lineout scraps, and the margin completed six tries to three. The Stags’ industrious No 8 Alex Hawira gained breakdowns, and he did rating after 5 mins because the Stags went directly to banquet upon plentiful ball from penalties.
But Varsity got here returned for Doug Juszczyk to score after a Grogan sprint off a lineout and skipper Kirk Tufuga scored from a quick tap for a 14-7 halftime lead. First-5 Nick Birchfield changed into later applauded off on his a centesimal recreation.”We’re looking ahead to a fantastic semi in opposition to College,” Grogan said. “We had a bit of a dropping habit at the begin, and usually we button off at this time of the season. We’re starting to consider in ourselves now.”
An ANZ Bank rural supervisor, he has been a part of the Manawatū excessive-overall performance squad all 12 months after missing maximum of the closing season with anterior cruciate ligament damage.
“It’s three hundred and sixty-five days after surgical operation now; the knee is feeling appropriate,” Grogan stated.
Meanwhile, Varsity’s forwards towered over FOBO’s who ought to handiest salvage lineout scraps and the margin completed six attempts to 3. The Stags’ industrious No 8 Alex Hawira received breakdowns, and he did score after five mins as the Stags went directly to banquet upon considerable ball from consequences.
But Varsity came again for Doug Juszczyk to score after a Grogan dash off a lineout and skipper Kirk Tufuga scored from a quick faucet for a 14-7 halftime lead. First-five Nick Birchfield changed into later applauded off on his one-hundredth game.
