North Harbour 1st
XV report – 11 May
Massey High School hosted Westlake BHS in the first round of
the North Harbour 2013 1A competition. Both teams tested each other in the early stages of the game but with mistakes
and turnovers by both sides and penalties at the breakdown aplenty, it was nil
all for much of the first half. Penalties at the breakdown continued to be
theme throughout the game. Westlake turned
down a couple of early opportunities to take penalty points and it was Massey
who scored the first points from a penalty kick by first-five Tyler Castle.
Westlake’s No. 8 Martin Brink charged for the line during a raid into Massey
territory but came up just short however the resulting penalty saw halfback
Harry Calverley secure three points to draw level. Massey pushed into Westlake’s half late in
the first half and from a scrum worked a well-drilled move with a short ball delivered
to charging winger Mark Telea who went through the defensive line, stepping the
last defender to score. The resulting conversion was kicked by Castle.
The half-time score was 10-3 in favour of Massey, but
Westlake came out firing first with a probe into Massey’s red zone. From a scrum penalty Westlake took a quick
tap and worked the ball wide to centre Willy Lea’ae Toa who breached the
defence to score out wide. Calverley kicked the conversion and again the scores
were tied - 10 all. Mid way through the second spell Massey pushed back into
opposition territory but to no avail. Following a penalty kick to touch Westlake
won the line out and from the resultant maul, hard working openside flanker
Brendan Bond broke away to score next to the posts for Calverley to kick the
conversion and take the lead 17-10 for the first time. Both sides battled away but their defences held
til late in the second half Massey attacked through several phases of play by their
forwards and big reserve lock Faamanu Petelo drove hard for the line to reach
out and touch down under the posts for Castle to kick the conversion to again
tie up the game - 17 all. Massey attacked
again but Westlake earned a defensive penalty to kick deep to touch on the
Massey 22. From a post-lineout maul the ball was turned over but Massey’s
clearing kick was charged down to go dead. Westlake secured the 22 drop-out
kick and went back on attack, Massey infringed at the breakdown and Calverley
had the last say with a well taken penalty kick to win the game 20-17. A hard fought encounter dominated by
turn-overs, mistakes and penalties at the breakdown between the two close rivals
in which the result could have gone either way.
Westlake: B. Bond, W. Lea’ae Toa tries;
H. Calverley 2 con, 2 pen
Massey: M. Telea, F. Petelo tries; T.
Castle 2 con, pen.
In the other games Takapuna drew with Rosmini 17 all at
home, newly promoted Orewa started well edging Rangitoto 14-8 and last season’s
1B champion Birkenhead showed their intentions for 2013 with a very
comprehensive 44-8 win over Mahurangi at Warkworth.
1A Points:
Birkenhead 5, Westlake 4, Orewa 4, Rosmini 2, Takapuna 2, Massey 1, Rangitoto
1, Mahurangi 0
The fixtures for 18 May are the televised match between Rosmini and Massey at 2.45pm, with all other matches at 12pm - Orewa hosts Mahurangi at Silverdale Rugby Club, an interesting clash between Birkenhead and Takapuna and, Westlake hosts Rangitoto. The Open B and all other grades kick-off their season too.
Photos by Stephen Summers
Right -
Left - Westlake No 8 Martin Brink takes the ball into contact
Right - Massey reserve lock Faamanu Petelo drives for the line