Saracens claims the silverware

• Published date: 15 July 2021
• Publication title: North Canterbury News

The shock of the round was Ashley beating Glenmark-Cheviot 27-32. The combined side’s presence in the semi finals is now slim. Hurunui kept itself in contention beating Ohoka, while Oxford beat Woodend by default.

Points after round six of seven: Saracens 26, Kaiapoi 25, Oxford 19, Ashley 16, Hurunui 15, Glenmark 11,Ohoka 10, Woodend 1.

Kaiapoi v Saracens

Placards along the Saracens supporters’ sideline congratulating ‘Goody’ was inspiration not only to flanker Nathan Goodwin, playing his 150th match, but for the whole team.

He turned in an inspirational performance in an enthralling top-of-the-table encounter, with the lead changing throughout the match.

Saracens was the first to score, courtesy of a Ricky Allin penalty, but Kaiapoi hit back when fullback Reuben Tiweka collected an attacking Saracens kick, used his speed to beat one player and then put Logan Bell in the clear to run half the length of the field to score.

A penalty on the stroke of half-time gave Kaiapoi at 8-3 lead at half time.

Kaiapoi paid dearly for a number of errors in the second half. After twice failing to find touch after being awarded defensive penalties, the Saracens backs contrived to put the hard-running Hadrian Jackson into a hole for a try which Allin converted.

Kaiapoi struck back when Tiweka scored in the corner with a spectacular dive as he grounded the ball millimetres from the corner.

Corey Simpson replaced Allin and took over the goal-kicking, scrambling the ball over the crossbar to tie the match up 13-all.

Kaiapoi took the lead when substitute Lance Taylor cross for a try, but Kerran Jenkins scored a try for Saracens leaving Simpson to convert for a 20-18 win.

The tireless Jarred Gilmore was the pick of the Kaiapoi forwards, matching Goodwin’s efforts for Saracens. But it was the visitors who took away the valued silverware winning the coveted Deans Trophy and the Bates Cup, which is played for annually between the two teams. Barring a major upset next week, Saracens will almost certainly add the Colin Rowlands Trophy for the North Canterbury only competition.

Scoreboard: Kaiapoi 18 (Logan Bell, Reuben Tiweka and Lance Taylor, tries, Taine Jacobs-Lawson a penalty) lost to Saracens 20 ( Hadrian Jackson and Kerran Jenkins, tries. Ricky Allin a penalty and conversion, Corey Simpson 1 penalty, 1 conversion.

Glenmark-Cheviot toppled

Glenmark-Cheviot looked comfortably placed with a 24-10 half-time advantage over Ashley at Loburn Domain.

The combined side dominated the...