Saracens on an impressive roll

Published date06 May 2021
Meanwhile, Glenmark-Cheviot continued its unbeaten record, heading off Ohoka 39-10, and Oxford comfortably beat Hurunui 45-12, in its pre-duckshooting mid-week clash.

Much was expected of Woodend after its draw with Oxford, but the seasiders never really turned up to face a confident Saracens unit.

Saracens was quickly out of party mode after its shock loss to Kaiapoi the week before, scoring first early in the half. It then went on to rack up another eight tries, winning 64-11.

Woodend was the first to admit it didn’t turn up to this match. It was the reliable boot of Jordie Swaine and a last-minute try to Nick Van de Weil that helped save face.

Saracens benefited from its own confidence, and built on this with a superb display of support play to score its tries.

Prop Jordie Smith was in the thick of things and earned his team’s player-of-the-day award.

Scoreboard: Saracens 64 (Brett Hancox 2, Oscar Burney 2, Harry Murray 2, Nathan Goodwin, Adrian Jackson, Kieran Jenkins tries. Archie McBride 3 conversions, Ricky Allin 5 conversions, 1 penalty beat Woodend 11 (Jordie Swaine 2 penalties, Nick Van de Weil a try).

Injuries hit Ohoka

Sadly, Ohoka’s match against Glenmark-Cheviot will be remembered as the game which had to change fields not once, but twice, as the result of two potentially season-ending injuries to Ohoka players. There was an ankle injury to halfback Sam England and a concussion to lock Zane Paterson.

With these two players joining several other squad members in a growing casualty ward, Ohoka’s playing depth was sorely tested.

It was a day when things tended to happened in pairs. Glenmark-Cheviot’s two best forwards, the hard-working prop Hayden O’Donnell and the ruthlessly effective flanker Heath Cruickshank, were both rewarded by a brace of tries.

The match also saw the emergence of two promising young halfbacks. Max Murray made a good fist of his first run-on start for Glenmark-Cheviot, while, for Ohoka, 18-year-old Caleb Parsons softened the blow of losing England.

It was a typically efficient team performance from Glenmark-Cheviot.

Mike Keane was the only Glenmark-Cheviot back to score a try, and he combined with Matt Jensen to form a tigerish defensive line in mid-field that snuffed out most attacking attempts.

Right wing George Wiggins scored Ohoka’s solitary try, with five-eighth Scott Allin kicking a penalty and a conversion, while, for the visitors, the ever-reliable boot of Brook Retallick added four conversions, a penalty goal and...

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