Rugby: Magic Mount leave Te Puke stunned in 53-10 hiding

Teddy Stanaway makes a clean break for Mount Maunganui, with Danny Kayes in support and Te Puke flanker David Whitecliffe-Davies giving chase. Photo/Andrew Warner

Mount Maunganui Sports produced a performance for the ages at Blake Park on Saturday as they tore apart previously unbeaten Te Puke Sports by 53-10.

It was their fourth consecutive win over Te Puke and according to some wise old supporters, the first time they have reached 50 against their old foe.

The win was set up initially by a fired-up forward pack led by Johan Bardoul, playing at lock, whose personal battle with Te Puke captain Tim Bond was torrid throughout.

The classy loose forward trio of flankers Sam Gavigan, Chris Gillies and No8 Matty Axtens ensured a feast of ball for the backs to play with.

The Mount were simply scintillating to watch, with most of their seven tries emanating from deep in their own territory.

The pick of them was an absolute stunner that began from under the Mount goal posts and ended with a try to fullback Andy Devoy under the Te Puke posts.

It came at the start of the second half as Te Puke were desperate to get back into the contest, trailing 27-10.

They turned the ball over short of the line and a speculative pass behind the goal line was picked up by former Auckland ITM Cup midfielder Teddy Stanaway.

The impressive 24-year-old broke three tackles and sprinted away, linking with No8 Matty Axtens, then Zar Lawrence before first-five Cayden Matehaere gave the final pass to Andy Devoy.

Brilliant stuff indeed and a minute later the Mounties were at it again, with Bardoul starting the move with a trademark run before Gavigan joined in and winger Danny Kayes scored.

With the Mount leading 41-10 with 35 minutes to go, curiously there was no more scoring until the final few minutes when Mount ran in two more tries to break the 50-point barrier.

It was one of those games for Te Puke when nothing went right.

They never recovered from another slow start - this time conceding early tries to David Smart and Sam Gavigan within 10 minutes.

But they are a resilient mob so will be fired up for a huge clash with Whakarewarewa at home next Saturday.

Mount Maunganui Sports 53 (David Smart, Sam Gavigan, Teddy Stanaway, Andy Devoy, Danny Kayes, Mason Walker, Sam Hughs tries; Cayden Matehaere 3 cons, 2 pens; Zar Lawrence con, Chad Jacobs con, Adam McGarvey con). Te Puke Sports 10 (Matt Wallis try; Sipa Moimoi con, pen).