Mount Maunganui fullback Andy Devoy charges ahead in his team's 37-3 thrashing of Tauranga Sports on Saturday.Photo/Andrew Warner
Mount Maunganui fullback Andy Devoy charges ahead in his team's 37-3 thrashing of Tauranga Sports on Saturday.Photo/Andrew Warner
Tauranga Sports were ruthlessly dumped out of the top four of the Bayfair Baywide premier competition by Mount Maunganui Sports in a 37-3 hiding at the Tauranga Domain on Saturday.
Die-hard Tauranga supporters wandered off shaking their heads in dismay at what has happened to the defending champions. One quipped,"We were lucky to get three", as he eyed up a cold beer.
Tauranga were sloppy and turned over so much ball they stifled every one of the promising moves set up by their hard-working pack. They trailed 13-3 at the break but the Mounties could hardly believe their luck as Tauranga bombed two golden try-scoring chances and usually accurate Paul Morris looked like he had the wrong boots on.
The game changer came with Tauranga trailing 10-3. Centre Byron McGuigan burst down the touchline after a clever pass from George Honey, but with two players unmarked inside him, he decided to go himself and lost the ball in the tackle.
Mount Maunganui have played the most enterprising rugby all season and with a policy of running the ball from everywhere - including behind their own goal line - are great to watch.
Their opening try came via the more direct route with flanker Johan Bardoul crashing over for the early lead. Matt Golding converted the first of seven successful kicks from as many attempts, and his all-round performance in both the No9 and 10 jerseys was a standout.
Leading 13-3 at the break, Mount Maunganui never looked like letting Tauranga back into the game. A Golding penalty stretched the lead to 16-3 before the final 20 minutes was all one-way traffic, as Mount Maunganui's skillful backline cut loose.
Promising centre Chris Croadsdale showed an eye for the gap and plenty of pace, as he crossed for two tries, with the final bonus-point try coming from replacement Sam Hughes.
Neither side has time to dwell on the result with a further round of matches today but the bumps and bruises will feel much worse for the Tauranga boys as they desperately try to get their season back on track away to Te Puna.
Mount Maunganui captain David Smart says the win was sweet revenge after three losses on the trot to Tauranga, including last year's final.
Mount Maunganui Sports 37 (Chris Croadsdale 2, Johan Bardoul, Sam Hughes tries; Matt Golding 4 cons, 3 pens); Tauranga Sports 3 (Paul Morris pen).
