RUGBY
Five years after last pulling on the blue and gold, Grant McQuoid has signalled he's keen for another crack at the Steamers.
After a three-year stint in Japan, the midfielder played his second match for Mount Maunganui on Saturday in the 44-27 win over Whakarewarewa.
Looking lean and sharp, the 30-year-old was industrious in the 40 mins he played in the second half, setting up a try and adding class to an already slick Mount backline. McQuoid ended his two-year contract with Yamaha over summer and is just delighted to be on the field again.
"We finished in January and I didn't get as many playing opportunities in the last season as I would've liked so I'm pretty fresh," McQuoid said. "I've come back pretty keen and today was good - we played a good style of rugby and threw it around."
McQuoid's arrival could see him add to his 41 Bay of Plenty caps, giving the Steamers some decent midfield depth and a healthy chunk of experience.
He'll join the likes of Phil Burleigh, Brett Mather, Wayne Hughson and Mount teammate in contention for the midfield positions, although he's also useful at wing or fullback.
"At the moment, I'm concentrating on my rugby and seeing if I can give the Bay a crack. The coaches have said if I'm good enough in club play, I could force my way back in there."
Ironically, it was Whakarewarewa centre Doug Edwards who provided the star turn in Saturday's match, crossing three times in a losing effort and shooting to the top of the Baywide tryscoring ranks with eight for the season.
The Rotorua Hospital physiotherapist began his Whakarewarewa playing career 21 years ago but has spent much of the last decade in Dunedin, where he was studying.
He made Otago under-19 and Colts sides, before playing the last three years in the province's development side.
Having just turned 26, Edwards shapes up much like his club team in maturing late.
"We were terrible earlier on but we're just trying to improve every game," Edwards said. "We scored five tries against one of the better sides - a win would have been nice - but at least we're moving in the right direction.
"They had too much firepower for us today and we had a few out of our tight five. We needed them for these big games.
"They're definitely one of the better teams we've played this year - they've got a good structure and they hit holes and find space."
Mount's back three contributed five tries, with slippery fullback Tutere Waenga and wing Malakai Kisina each grabbing doubles.
The home side had a four-try bonus point by halftime, though goal-kicking woes - first-five Sam Juricich missed six attempts - kept Whakarewarewa within sight at 22-15 ahead at the break.
But Mount's impressive depth was evident on a bench containing first-five Dan Waenga, McQuoid and Chiefs No 8 Colin Bourke.
The turning point came just after Edwards scored his second try halfway through the second half. Whakarewarewa were penalised on the linesman's advice for some innocuous-looking rucking and Bourke, having just arrived on the field, signalled for a shot at goal near halfway.
Three steps later and the ball was sailing over, sweetly struck and never deviating, with Mount out to a 30-22 lead.
Ten minutes later, Bourke provided the final flick pass for second-five Zion Nordstrom to score, with Mata McGrath's last minute heroics coming after Edwards had grabbed his third.
McQuoid has one eye on the Steamers
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.