Three NC teams squander half time leads

• Published date: 25 May 2023
• Publication title: North Canterbury News

Glenmark-Cheviot, Ashley and Hurunui all squandered half time leads, ending on the wrong side of the ledger at full time

Glenmark-Cheviot led group B leaders Ashburton Celtic 17-8 only to lose 25-27, Ashley headed group A leaders Prebbleton 7-6 before going down 12-32, and Hurunui surrendered a handy 11-0 advantage over West Melton losing 17-19.

Saracens came from behind over Darfield winning 25-24, while Woodend held considerable hope of posting its first win of the season after being 14-all at half time over Springston before losing 28-31.

Kaiapoi was always in command against Rakaia winning 32-19, while Oxford did recover after trailing 0-19 against Southern at the break and competed on even terms in the second spell but losing 6-27.

Ohoka, after dictating terms for much of its game against Southbridge, almost had a victory snatched away in injury time, when a penalty shot hit an up right that allowed them to hold on to a 26-24 lead.

Points after seven rounds: Pool A:- Prebbleton 32, Kaiapoi 27, Saracens 26, Ashley 24, Darfield 23, Southern 20, Rakaia and Lincoln-Rolleston 11, Hornby and Oxford 6. Pool B:- Ashburton Celtic 34, Waihora 30, Methven 24, Glenmark- Cheviot 23, West Melton 22, Ohoka 19, Southbridge 15, Hurunui 13, Springston 8, Woodend 5.

Saracens v Darfield

A cool day dawned at Darfield Recreation ground for this important match, with the second half played in dark, heavy drizzly conditions.

From the kick off Darfield mounted an attack into the Saracens half, with Saracens defending and clearing from close to its goal line.

From a line out Darfield dropped the ball, just inside Saracens half, as it spun it through the backline.

It was scooped up by Nathan Goodwin, who ran about 60 metres to score beside the posts. Caleb Pomare-Edwards converted. Darfield evened the score 10 minutes later with a converted try.

Saracens took the lead when Ra Karena scored after a well-planned lineout move saw play go around the front of the lineout for him to score near the corner to take the score to 12-7. Darfield, however, took the half time lead 17-12, after scoring a converted try and kicking a penalty.

With the weather deteriorating as the second half got under way, Saracens immediately went on to the attack. Under pressure Darfield infringed and Saracens was awarded a penalty for Pomare-Edwards to convert.

From the kick off both teams battled for supremacy, but again under pressure, Darfield infringed, and Saracens was awarded a penalty. Pomare-Edwards...