Rugby: Whangarei too strong

Whangarei No. 8 Wiremu Greig in heavy Orewa traffic.

The powerful tackling of Whangarei's defensive line took its toll on Orewa during the eighth round of the 1st XV competition.

Despite a closely contested first half concluding with Orewa ahead 6-0, Whangarei shocked Orewa's home field support in the second half on Saturday, running away with an overwhelming 42-18 victory.

The first half was dominated by Orewa, their greater level of fitness enabling them to commit more numbers to the breakdown and force the easy turn over while Whangarei failed to make any significant ground. Eventually Orewa were rewarded for their efforts, with second-five Tom Jordon successfully converting two penalties.

Although Orewa's halfback Klay Murray made a tenacious effort to create more scoring opportunities, performing grubber kicks and "back door" passes, the team struggled to accomplish anything more in the first half against a monstrous defensive line. Despite being on the back foot for most of the half, Whangarei's blind-side flanker Matt Harrison and No8 Wiremu Greig fronted an impenetrable stronghold, devastating Orewa's offence with powerful tackles.

The team's dynamic defence began to take its toll on Orewa in the latter stages of the half, as their offence slowed.

Orewa entered the second half a different team, having succumbed to the superior size and strength of Whangarei in the first. Their lack of tenacity widened the field for Whangarei to score straight away, with halfback Tukaha Wihongi dotting down under the posts. Soon after, Orewa suffered the loss of halfback Klay Murray through injury. The running strength of Whangarei's first-five Scott Gregory, fullback Jayden Leupepe, and Wiremu Greig dominated the second half. Winger Euan Sapwell also performed the match's greatest act of individual brilliance, grubbering down the sideline from 40m out, recovering the ball and running around his opposition to score a try in the right hand corner. Scott Gregory performed flawlessly with the boot, successfully converting all six of his team's tries. Although Orewa fought back to score two late tries, the damage had well and truly been done, with Whangarei winning 42-18.

In the other 1A fixtures, Westlake overwhelmed Rangitoto 49-7, Massey were too good for Birkenhead 45-3 and Rosmini comfortably beat Takapuna 20-3. In the mid-week fixture held June 15, Rosmini defeated Massey in a close encounter 19-11. There is now a clear top 4 in the first week of the second round. In the 25 June fixtures, Takapuna host Rangitoto in the match of the week, Westlake play Birkenhead at home, Orewa travel to Massey and Rosmini take the road trip to Whangarei.

- 1A Points: Westlake 39, Rosmini 34, Massey 29, Whangarei 24, Rangitoto 13, Takapuna 8, Orewa 8, Birkenhead 1.