Swords 15s and 17s – NZRL Nationals – Draw

The Northern Swords 17s have one more game to go, to put Northland on the map.  In a record breaking season, the Swords currently share the top of the table with the Akarana Falcons and the Counties Manukau Stingrays – who all have four wins and one loss in the competition.

The Benson Selwyn coached 17s, bounced back from last week’s heavy loss to the Stingrays with a tense 28 – 20 win, over a classy Wellington Orcas team, at Hikurangi Rugby Ground on Saturday 5^th October.   Both teams needed the victory to have any chance of making the finals.  The Orcas came out with fire in their belly, bringing a physical contest to Hikurangi.  Their forward pack were rugged on attack and defence.  On the back of the Orcas forwards dominance, a slick back line threaten every time they moved the ball.

The Orcas were first to score, with Kiwi 16s halfback slicing through the defence line.  Rugged Swords loose forward, JD Fisher Harris hit back almost immediately and he punched his way through the Orcas D line from 15 metres out.  The Orcas looked to be dominating at with a 16 – 10 lead as both teams went for half time oranges.

Coach Benson Selwyn then gave the Swords a “think piece” and challenged them to do better, “Are you happy being the big guns ONLY in Northland, or do you want to challenge on a National Stage”  Selwyn put to his charges.   The National stage was the choice his team took as they outscored the Orcas by 18 – 4 in a tense and exciting second half.  Haane Rudolph grabbed a double with two identical cheeky darts from dummy half.  While JD Fisher Harris repeated his first half effort in the exact format as he crashed over.  Pana Matiu sealed the victory on the back of a Swords smooth back line with less than two minutes on the clock to win 28 – 20 in a great free flowing game of footy!

For the Swords 17s, the season to date has been a huge success.  Before 2013 in the previous three years of the competitions the Swords17s had only won one game.  So to be one game away from the finals is major success story.  The Swords 17s play against the Akarana Falcons on Sunday 13^th October at Cornwall Park at 1.00pm.  With the winner securing a place in the final on Monday 20^th October – live on SKY TV.

NORTHERN SWORD 17s – Full Time Score 28 Tries: K RIPIKOI, I JOB, H RUDOLPH (2), J FISHER-HARRIS (2); Goals: D FULOP; Half Time Score: 10

WELLINGTON 17s – Full Time Score 20 Tries: I SOPOAGA, L CUMMINGS, J KATOA, P FINE; Goals: D MELVIN (2); Half Time Score: 16

For the Swords 15s and 17s who participated over the past couple of days at the Performance camp.

Here is a copy of the Performance Test results held at Kensington Stadium on Tuesday 7th July.

15s Testing Results

17s Testing Results

Also attached below is the Nutrition Presentation given to you by Ady McKenzie, from NorthTec, at the Performance Camp here at Kensington Stadium.

Nutrition Presentation