Ōhaupō prevail despite Putāruru surge

• Published date: 23 June 2022
• Author: RUGBY
• Publication title: Te Awamutu Courier

Ōhaupō arrived needing a victory to finish second at the end of the first round, after some impressive performances this season

Ōhaupō were first to score when prop Taylor Hayes crashed over from a set piece off a lineout.

Next to score for Ōhaupō was hooker Ben Parrott after a beautiful grubber kick through from fullback Dean Fullerton, where Parrott recovered the ball and stepped infield to score. During the middle parts of the first half the game became a kick-a-thon.

Ōhaupō were again next to score, after this time moving the Putāruru defence from side to side, where big lock Jacob Reymer crashed over. Fullerton converted to give Ōhaupō a 17-nil lead. Ōhaupō went into the break leading 17-0.

Players to show out in the first half were Parrott who was all over the park, and he was well supported by busy blindside flanker and captain Hayden Thomas. But the impressive Fullerton was Ōhaupō’s best player in the first 40 minutes of this one, with his fantastic positional play, and pinpoint infield kicking.

Ōhaupō was first to score after halftime, when hard-running second-five Chris Ferguson cut through the Putāruru defence to score beside the posts, and it was converted.

This was just the start they wanted in the second half, Ōhaupō holding a 24-nil lead.

Ōhaupō roared back on attack this time with centre Dylan Samson crashing over close to the line.

Ōhaupō then led 29-0.

After the kick-off Putāruru stormed onto attack and then received an attacking penalty that had them score in the corner.

Putāruru then had their best period of the game — after making some changes in the forwards, they started to get some go-forward.

Putāruru’s best attacking player was fullback Hadyn Benge who always made metres when he had ball in hand.

Ōhaupō absorbed Putāruru’s attack and after a great kick downfield by Ferguson, Ōhaupō...