Kaiapoi, Saracens win away

• Published date: 24 June 2021
• Publication title: North Canterbury News

Kaiapoi had to work hard to beat Ohoka 23-15, while Saracens comfortably accounted for Ashley 29-0.

Points after three rounds: Kaiapoi 14, Saracens 12, Hurunui 10, Oxford 9, Ashley 6, Glenmark-Cheviot 5, Ohoka 5, Woodend 1.

Hard fought win

Kaiapoi needed to show all its class to head off a determined Ohoka side at Mandeville.

Both sides started with intent.

Ohoka struck first with a penalty to Scott Allin. Kaiapoi was able to regroup quickly and pressure the Ohoka defence which gave Kaiapoi its first converted try to second five Taine Jacobs-Lawson.

Leading 7-3 the visitors camped on Ohoka’s goal line and a sense of inevitability crept across the home crowd. However, the home side certainly didn’t sense this and displayed a courageous defensive effort in keeping Kaiapoi scoreless for the remaining half.

Although down at the break 7-3, momentum had shifted to the home side. Two consecutive tries to Codey Grimes and Nacaniell Namata gave Kaiapoi much needed momentum at 21-3. Ohoka clawed its way back closing the margin to 21-15 through tries to wing, George Wiggins, and prop, Tobias Pulley. Kaiapoi was rewarded with a penalty on full time to close out the match 24-15. Its loose forward duo of Jared Smith and Jared Gilmore were momentous around the park, while Ohoka’s Bernard Ryan, Sam Powell and Tom Taylor were industrious. S

Scoreboard: Kaiapoi 24 (Tanie Jacob-Lawson, Codey Grimes, Nacaniell Namata tries. Taine Jacobs-lawson 3 conversions, 1 penalty) beat Ohoka 15 (George Wiggins, Tobias Pulley tries. Scott Allin 1 conversion, 1 penalty).

Ashley in the pink

Tries either side of half time proved to be key moments in Saracens four try to none defeat of Ashley.

Played at the Loburn Domain, where the large crowd was also supporting Ashley’s breast cancer appeal, the first 20 minutes showed little difference between the teams. With a penalty count heavily favouring Saracens, the home team spent much of its time defending.

Saracens super boot, Ricky Allin, missed two penalty attempts and it wasn’t until the 25th minute before it went ahead with an Ollie Bithray intercept try. Allin followed with a penalty and on the stroke of half time No 8, Josh Maynard, crashed over in a wall of jerseys to score.

Minutes into the second spell Saracens centre Toby Ashby sliced through the defence to score. Seven minutes later fullback Harry Murray scored.

Spurred on by its group of loyal supporters, Ashley continued to defend with considerable spirit and spent a lot of time on...