- Co-Captains – Te Tuhi Tipene and Israel Tahere
Round 1 – NZRL National Competition – Northern Swords v Central Vipers
Jon Renes Northern Sword’s young guns showed guts and determination in the opening match of the NZRL National Premiership as they drew the final forty minutes 4 all. The second half results demonstrating that Jon Renes’ young team can match it at National League level.
With 11 players under the age of 22 and 3 players aged 18, plus a total of 8 debutants, the team on paper is very inexperienced and in the first forty minutes they certainly showed their inexperience. The Swords received the ball from kick off and looked like they were going to be competitive as they marched up field with power and control to complete their first set. The Vipers then had the football, the Swords looked to control the defense line which they did until the Vipers chanced their arm and ran the ball on the final tackle to the surprise of the Swords defense exposing a vulnerable left edge to score in the corner.
The Swords responded positively and put pressure on the Vipers try line, however the Vipers were well drilled and played a controlled game led around the paddock by a confident halves paring in Colin Hokinga and Haize Reweti continuing to expose the Swords left edge and marker defense.
“The first half was frustrating, for most of the half we looked in control and controlled the ruck, but when we got split the Vipers captalised and scored.” Coach Renes said. “We had a couple of missed opportunities to score early on which could have changed the flow of the game, but that’s footy and you need to convert your chances.”
After the break it looked as if the second stanza was going to show a repeat of the first as Vipers flying winger Jo Ratu crossed for Central soon after the restart, but those would be their final points as the Swords rallied for each other. They got into the arm wrestle and even dominated possession to draw the second half 4 – 4 with Co- Captain Te Tuhi Tipene scoring the Swords only try.
Tipene’s try came after sustained pressure and four disallowed or bombed try opportunities which shows that given time together this team should be confident about the future.
Coach Renes was elated from the second half performance, “The boys had a choice at half time to either roll over and give up, or guts it out and I’m pleased to say they chose the latter. Our objectives are about building this team for the future, we’re developing a good culture with the guys and if they choose that they want to improve, I’m confident that by the end of the season we will have ticked off a number of positive performances.”
Kelsin Harding, Kyle Hool and Riki Toby had standout games. Debutants Eli George, Kawana Marsden, Tamati Leach and Brodie Palmer had strong performances showing the potential of the team looks very good.
The Swords next challenge is against powerhouse Counties Manukau Stingrays which is played at Central Rugby Ground – Lindvart Park – Kaikohe on Saturday 5th September with a 2.00pm kick off.
The Stingrays suffered one of their few defeats on Sunday against 2014 finalists the Waicoa Bay Stallions 18 – 8. With Wellington also gaining a draw against the Akarana Falcons the 2015 NZRL National Premiership is a competition that is wide open!
Central Vipers 38 (Tyson Lewis 3, Rakai Tuheke 2, Jordan Kerr & Jo Ratu tries; Matthew Murtha 5 goals) Northern Swords 4 (Te Tuhi Tipene try); HT: 34-0
Vipers: 1-Tyson Lewis, 2-Matt Murtha, 3-Vai Kereti, 4-Jordan Kerr, 5-Josaia Ratu, 6-Collin Hokianga, 7-Haze Reweti, 8-Denzel Lepua, 9-Rakai Tuheke, 10-Gordy Karaitiana, 11-Tieimi Henare-Ransfield, 12-Josh Kerr, 13-William Schuster, 15-Kane Brodie Kelleher, 17-Hopa Edwards, 18-Richard Collins, 23-Kahura Cameron
Swords: 1-Jaydenn Bentley-Hape, 2-Hoani Tahana, 3 -Tamati Leach, 4 -TeTuhi Tipene, 5-Israel Tahere, 6-Kyle Hool , 7-Daniel Fulop, 8 -Kawana Marsden, 9- Stevie-Ray Haenga Croft, 10 -Eli George, 11 -Riki Toby, 12 -Herewini McGregor, 13-Kelsin Harding, 14 -Matiu Whatarau, 15 -Jordan Hool, 16 -Brodee Palmer, 17-Sharif Mangu
Click here to see Round 2’s Starting Line Up.
