Valley win historic battle at Te Kuiti
Well, I’ve seen it dryer on the inside of an otter’s pocket, as an old mate of mine summed up nicely post game. With rain of biblical proportions pelting down throughout the match, the mighty Swamp Foxes claimed the Bill Osborne Taonga for the first time, and also retained the Centurions Cup. Two more trophies to add to the starting to bulge cabinet, after claiming the Presidents’ Cup against Wairarapa Bush a few weeks back.
So King Country, under lights, in the wet. A recipe for disaster, but the boys rolled their sleeves up and tore into it, and got one back on the Ram’s after the Super Rugby curtain-raiser loss pre season. Great continuity, great ball handling, good options, wet weather rugby at its best at times, although the kicking could have been a bit better, the Rams seemed to get the better of that battle, but that was about it for the home team at the end of the day. Or rather night.
The match started with an early penalty to King Country, then a ton of rugby battling it out between the 22s, with the Valley making inroads and threatening, but KC scrambling well on D. Then a second KC penalty saw the score hit six nil to the home side after 18 minutes. From the ensuing kickoff, Fletcher Morgan soared highest to regain possession, and after a couple of phases, a wide pass from Hendrix Beazley to Alex Thrupp saw the rampaging winger beat at least half a dozen tackles in a forty metre charge for the line. The kick from out wide missed as the rain bucketed down.
The Valley continued to dominate possession through the next few minutes, but mistakes and some good defence from the Rams saw our heroes unable to add to the score. A lineout drive set up close to the line went astray, but from the ensuing KC throw Valley stole the pill (the rain was coming down so hard at this stage it was hard to see across the field, let alone identify the perpetrator of the steal),, and after numerous phases, captain Matt Axten’s scored beside the uprights, Conversion to Fletch Morgan, twelve to six and the dominance on the field starting to show on the scoreboard.
King Country finally started to get some possession after being starved for so long through the first 30 minutes, and a few moments before the halftime break landed their third penalty to make the score 9-12 to the visitors. Not a great reward when you consider how much rugby the Swampies had played. In the conditions though, being ahead by three was like a ten point lead.
The second forty started with the Valley pack again dominating the scrum battle and earning penalties, one which was kickable but missed by Morgan from extreme range. The lineout, which purred along all night like THT’s recently tuned Hilux lost their only two of the night – gilt edged opportunities going begging. The Valley borrowed a page from the Springbok play book and bought four subs on in this period. Meanwhile King Country were winning the scoreboard battle by threes, and had drawn level 15 all.
Once the last of the subs had rolled on, and they’d got up to the pace of the game, the impact of the fresh legs started to show, a great jackal by Laulea Mau with twenty to go gave possession back to the Valley, and a couple of minutes later from an attacking lineout, Mau was unstoppable from close range and scored to make take it to 20-15. More good play through this period with prop Te Huia Kutia prominent in the wet saw another penalty, and Quinn Collard slotting it for an eight point lead.
The final fifteen minutes King Country enjoyed more possession, but made some perplexing decisions as they attempted to drive over for tries, before taking three points with time up on the clock. Bringing the game back to a five point margin with ten to go may have been a better option than with just sixty seconds! But always tough out on the field – Ole Tighthead Ted’s never missed a tackle from the grandstand, and always made the right call after a couple of giggle juices.
Anywho, the final score saw the mighty Swamp Foxes take the win 23-15, take the Centurions Cup and the Bill Osborne Taonga, and go into round four next week against Whanganui undefeated.
Some great handling on display this week in the wet, Hiliau Latu at tighthead prop was immense in the first spell with ball in hand. Showing the skills from his time as a brylcreem boy with two numbers on his back as a teenager. Some rumbling runs, and a few crunching tackles that would be bruising up nicely about Sunday brunch time. Isaac Seiuli, in his first start for the Valley in the number eight jersey would have left a few battered and bruised bodies in his wake too. The baby faced assassin was like a raging bull carting the ball forward and an out of control exocet missile in the defensive line.
Leroy Neels at halfback showed he’s ready for a start again after having a horribly disrupted club season, some nice sniping runs and his distribution top class. Not that Jake O’Connor has been playing badly, the Waihou nine had another cracking game, tackling anything and everything that moved. Alex Thrupp in fourteen, in addition to his highlight reel try was always dangerous with ball in hand, and Fletcher Morgan made a more than handy debut for the Valley as a centre threequarter.
Big ups also to all the teams this week – great wins in particular to the Vixens and the Jackals, and the age group sides, nice to see plenty of ticks in the ‘W’ columns.
Next week – at Thames, against Whanganui. The Swampies owe the Butcher Boys one after last season’s semi final loss. Also the Bill Osborne Taonga on the line – even more poignant, as Bill started his career at Wanganui back in the day. Look him up kids, a second five with silky skills and legs like tree trunks. Lets pack the ground people and keep the trophy at its new home.
Disclaimer: The opinions of the writer, Tighthead Ted are those THT, not the Valley or of the two Scotts, and in no way should be thought of as coming from the Thames Valley Rugby Union and / or the employees of the TVRU, or Scott or Scott. As always, if you get upset by THT’s spot on and razor sharp sumations, analysis and guesses, tough noogies, don’t call Ted, don’t call the TVRU, don’t call Scott or Scott – call the Salvation Army – because they care.
King Country 18 (6 penalties), lost to Thames Valley (A Thrupp, M Axtens, L Mau tries; F Morgan conversion, penalty, Q Collard penalty).
Heartland Results (home team first).
King Country 18 lost to Thames Valley 23
Whanganui 91 beat Buler 7
Wairarapa Bush 19 lost to North Otago 69
East Coast 23 beat Poverty Bay 17
Mid Canterbury 19 lost to South Canterbury 41
West Coast 26 lost to Horowhenua Kapiti 27
| Pos. | P | W | D | L | PF | PA | TF | TA | TB | LB | +/- | BP | PTS | Form | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Canterbury | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 147 | 87 | 23 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 60 | 3 | 15 |
WWW
|
| 2 | Thames Valley | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 84 | 57 | 10 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 27 | 1 | 13 |
WWW
|
| 3 | Whanganui | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 174 | 80 | 27 | 12 | 3 | 1 | 94 | 4 | 12 |
LWW
|
| 4 | East Coast | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 64 | 57 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 2 | 10 |
LWW
|
| 5 | Horowhenua Kapiti | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 70 | 70 | 8 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 10 |
WLW
|
| 6 | Mid Canterbury | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 98 | 89 | 12 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 9 |
WWL
|
| 7 | King Country | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 99 | 80 | 11 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 19 | 4 | 8 |
LWL
|
| 8 | West Coast | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 85 | 105 | 12 | 15 | 2 | 1 | -20 | 3 | 7 |
WLL
|
| 9 | North Otago | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 98 | 59 | 15 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 39 | 2 | 6 |
LLW
|
| 10 | Buller | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 47 | 156 | 5 | 23 | 0 | 0 | -109 | 0 | 4 |
WLL
|
| 11 | Poverty Bay | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 82 | 108 | 12 | 15 | 2 | 1 | -26 | 3 | 3 |
LLL
|
| 12 | Wairarapa Bush | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 75 | 175 | 10 | 26 | 1 | 0 | -100 | 1 | 1 |
LLL
|
Disclaimer: The opinions of the author, Mr Tighthead Ted esq. belong to THT (esq), and THT alone. In no way are they indicative or expressing the views or thoughts of the Thames Valley Rugby Union and / or the employees of the TVRU. Especially any opinions that may cast aspersions on referees or their touchies, as those buggers are on a hiding to nothing anyway, and as my coach used to say, they make less mistakes than the players anyway, so shut up and get back ten!!. So again, if you get upset by the ramblings of an old tight forward who has learned how to type, call 0800 436 684 for Ted’s counselling service.