Rugby: OBM lead from front to defeat Kamo

Old Boys Marist can hold their heads high after pressuring the life out of a previously dominant Kamo side.

After taking an early advantage through the boot of first-five Dan Wells, Old Boy Marist never relinquished the lead in their 18-10 victory.

Old Boys Marist co-coach Paul Butturini said the satisfying aspect of Saturday's win for him was denying the previously top of the table Kamo team any points.

"We still haven't seen the best of this team yet," Butturini warned. "I think they're running at 65 to 70 [per cent]."

In what Butturini described as a "typical top of the table clash", Saturday's match was an arm-wrestle which was decided by one freakish pick up by winger-cum-centre Mateo Malupo.

Malupo scooped in a kick over the defence, which bounced sharply into his mid-section, with about 20 to go to put the pressure on Kamo as they needed to score twice.

While Kamo needed to score twice, they persisted with kicking for field position and then struggled to crack the defence of Old Boys Marist - culminating with Kamo opting to take a shot at goal from a penalty with time up on the clock in an attempt to scrounge a close-loss bonus point.

Butturini commented how his side could have done better in the stop-start affair, but they managed to frustrate Kamo with their tight defence.

"There were some good plays amongst it but it was a typical top of the table clash.

"We missed a few kicks [at goal] which didn't help, [but] I think the boys knuckled down and put some kicks up and put the pressure on."

He credited performances by Wells, Matt Harrison and Sean Davies, who stepped up in his clash against Northland prop Matt Wallis, as having a strong influence in the result.

Kamo coach John Miller wasn't using injuries to key players such as Cam Goodhue as an excuse, saying they were simply beaten by a better side.

"[We made] a lot of mistakes," Miller said. "But, at the end of it, Old Boys Marist were better on the day.

" [We gave away] too many penalties during the game, which again was created from good opposition."

Kamo will be looking to improve on their discipline after creating opportunities at the right end of the park but giving away easy penalties, Miller said.

In other Southern Districts Premiers results, Hora Hora overcame Otamatea 42-15, Mid Northern beat Wellsford 39-17, the Western Sharks pushed aside Waipu 41-14, and Mid Western added more frustration to Hikurangi's season as they won 27-5.

In the reserve grade, Kamo beat Old Boys Marist in an affair which included a number of yellow cards 17-15, Otamatea got one over Hora Hora 25-21, Wellsford won a tight battle with Mid Northern by 26-23, Waipu posed no threat to the Western Sharks as the Sharks cruised to a 74-0 victory, and Hikurangi managed to topple Mid Western 26-22.