Outsiders jostle for semi-final spots
Wai-Coa-Bay Colts have continued to stake their claims as dark horses at the Got A Trade? Got It Made! National Youth
Tournament in
Rotorua.
While Akarana and Counties Manukau are generally expected to dominate the event, after contesting both finals last year,
results over the opening two days suggest the gap is closing.
The Colts have been perhaps the most impressive outfit outside Greater Auckland and actually hold a points-difference
advantage over the champion Falcons in their pool play.
Fullback Hayze Perham and centre Tautau Kapea had try-scoring doubles inTuesday’s 38-10 romp over Central Vipers,
following their 42-16 result over Wellington Orcas yesterday, and Wai-Coa-Bay are now assured of a spot in the
semi-finals.
They will face the Falcons for top spot in Pool D.
South Island Scorpions took a big step towards securing a semi-final spot in the 15s grade, when they accounted for Mid
Central Vipers 26-16.
Jensen Taumoepeau had Vipers on the board first with a try, but their rivals had swept to a 12-4 advantage by the break.
The Central side closed to 18-16 midway through the second half, but the southerners closed out with two tries to give
themselves a shot atThursday’s semis.
They will face Wellington Orcas tomorrow, with the winners progressing.
Akarana 15s got a wake-up call in their title defence, as they trailled Auckland Vulcans 6-0 at half-time of the their
encounter.
Vulcans are a squad made up of players that could not make the Akarana or Counties selections, so they feature many
players with points to prove.
Tries to Matthew Timoko, Vito Tevaga and Micha Marsh saw Falcons home over the final 25 minutes for a hard-fought 16-6
win.
Vulcans also proved a handful for Counties Manukau in the older division, before succumbing 24-18.
The Stingrays sprang out to an early advantage and led 18-6 at the break, but Auckland rallied to draw level at 18-18,
before their opponents edged clear at the death.
In the final result of the day, South Island Scorpions repeated their earlier 15s success in the older age group,
defeating Northern Swords 26-16.Ahead 10-4 at half-time, the Scorpions allowed the Northlanders to sweep to a 16-10 lead
midway through the second half.
But they came back strongly down the stretch, scoring the final three tries to sneak through for victory.
GOT A TRADE? GOT IT MADE! NATIONAL YOUTH TOURNAMENT
Puketawhero Park, Rotorua
Tuesday, September 29
15s
Counties Manukau Stingrays 32 (Antonio Poua, Penehulo Richard Toai, Daylee Dutton, Tyrone Hamilton, Aitasi Matauta & Pinomi Tuliakiono tries; Hamilton 3 & Dutton goals) Wellington Orcas 4 (Ontreal Arai-Panapa try); HT: 16-0
Referee - Dave Miller, touch - Graeme Hill & Joe Green
South Island Scorpions 26 (Joseph Magon 2, Jordan Riki, Mataia Pakii & Leo Petelo tries; Jimmy Wihongi 3 goals) Central Vipers 16 (Jensen Taumoepeau, Norman Maxwell & Shae Gray tries; Taumoepeau 2 goals); HT: 12-4
Referee - Taylor Waenga, touch - Henare Chadwick & Simon Taylor
Akarana Falcons 16 (Matthew Timoko, Vito Tevaga & Micha Marsh tries; Regan McClennan 2 goals) Auckland Vulcans 6 (Lewis Afeaki try; Emanuel Tuimavave-Gerrard goal); HT:
0-6
Referee - Graeme Hill, touch - Dave Miller & Joe Green
Northern Swords 24 (Paul Turner 3 & Dylan Brown tries; Brown 3 goals) Wai-Coa-Bay Colts 16 (Brodie Strickland 2 & Ronin Whelan tres; Quinn Collard 2 goals); HT: 12-12
Referee - Caslo Winekeri, touch - Rochelle Tamarua & Simon Taylor
17s
Akarana Falcons 28 (Delaney Chaney-Puata 2, Jerome Mamea, George Aleamotu & Faatupu Lisati tries; Dylan Tavita 4 goals) Wellington Orcas 14 (Xavier Manson, Enoch Tautolo & Montelle Sione-Leafe tries; Hawaiki Wallace goal); HT: 12-4
Referee - Atene Karauria, touch - Kena Waikai & Hone Nikora Davis
Wai-Coa-Bay Colts 38 (Hayze Perham 2, Tautau Kapea 2, Aublix Tawha, Ezekiel Cooper-Tetevano & Dylan Clark tries; Reuben Taylor 5 goals) Central Vipers 10 (Jahmarl Weir & Tevita Fehoko tries; Jahlon Governor goal): HT: 16-4
Referee - Rochelle Tamarua, touch - Mack Seymour & Caslo Winekeri
Counties Manukau Stingrays 24 (Joseph Afemui 2, Fine Vakautakakala & Peteroni Lilomaiava tries; Tyrone Nathan 4 goals) Auckland Vulcans 18 (Dakohta Taimani, Letuia Eliu & Lincoln Hakaraia tries; Taimani 3 goals); HT: 18-6
Referee - Kena Waikai, touch - Henare Chadwick & Hone Nikora Davis
South Island Scorpions 26 (Darcy More 2, Navare Jacobs, Leicester Faingaanuku & Tomas Ogilvie tries; Philidepha Toomalatai 2 & Joseph Taipari goals) Northern Swords 16 (Donald McKenna 2, Te Kahi Nathan & Ngarimu Rupapera tres); HT: 10-4
Referee - Tane Kaiwai, touch - Mack Seymour & Taylor Waenga
ENDS