Old Boys 38 ( F Fagasoaia 3, A Paea 2, P Fonokalafi tries; T Aholelei 4 con), Valley 17(B Malcolm try; N Webster 2 pen; M Roney pen). HT:19-9 Old Boys.

Subway Excelsior 34 (W Guyton 2, W Nehoff, R McGeown, R Steel tries; J Forrest 3 con, 1 pen), Athletic Marist 14 (V Leo, S Fisilau tries; M Egan 2 con). HT: 17-7 Excelsior.

Kurow 41 (D Malcolm 2, J Frew, T Hayman, T Anderson, K Jarvis tries; W Tree pen,4 con), Maheno 24 ( M Hore 3, J Daly tries; Hore 2 con). HT: 31-5 Kurow.

Old Boys outscored Valley by six tries to one as it made it six wins in a row in senior club rugby. Six minutes into the game first five eighth, Tai Ahalelei, broke over the Valley 22 and from the resulting second phase halfback Fala Fagasoaia scored the first of his hat trick of tries. Mark Roney kicked a penalty midway through the half and two minutes later Valley half back, Nick Webster, kicked a 43 metre penalty to put Valley in front, 6-5. Webster added a second penalty from 47 metres out two minutes later to extend Valley’s lead to 9-5.

In the last six minutes of the half, mobile Old Boys lock Ala Paea, raced in for the first of his two tries and two minutes from the break Old Boys flanker Paula Fonokalafi crossed. Halelei converted both tries to give Old Boys a 19-9 halftime lead. Fagasoaia went in for his second in the 44th minute for Halelei to convert. A strong Valley forward drive secured a try for number eight Blair Malcolm and a Webster penalty in the 64th minute closed the gap to nine points, before Old Boys took control in the last ten minutes with tries to Paea and Fagasoaia with Halelei converting both tries.

Subway Excelsior outscored Athletic Marist five tries to two after leading 17-7 at halftime. Subway Excelsior raced out to a 10-0 lead in the first quarter with Billy Guyton scoring two unconverted tries. A try to winger Will Nehoff, which was converted by Jason Forrest, extended the lead to 17 0 before Athletic number eight, Viliami Leo touched down for Mark Egan to convert. A try to Ryan McGeown converted by Forrest took Excelsior out to a 24-7 lead before Athletic midfielder Simi Fisilau scored for Egan to convert. Subway Excelsior had the final say with a try to Ricky Steel with Forrest adding the extra points.

Kurow scored six tries to Maheno’s four when it beat the home team 41-24 on Saturday. Dean Malcolm and winger Jason Frew scored in the first quarter with first five eighth Willie Tree converting one of the tries and kicking a penalty to give Kurow an early 15-0 lead. Michael Hore at fullback for Maheno, scored the first of his three tries to make it 15-5 before Kurow added a further 16 points in the second quarter with Tim Anderson and Tom Hayman touching down and Tree adding the extras to give the visitors a 31-5 halftime lead.

Maheno stormed back in the third quarter with Hore scoring twice and converting both tries before Malcolm got his second for Kurow and Kyle Jarvis added the sixth before Maheno’s English import, John Dally touched down late in the game.

Valley 22 (T Tupou 2, M Roney, C Rowland tries; Roney con), Excelsior 6 (B Guyton 2 pen) HT: 17-3 Valley.

Athletic Marist won by default from Kurow.

Next week’s draw:
Excelsior v Athletic Marist, WCS 2, 3pm
Old Boys v Valley, WCS 1, 3pm
Maheno v Kurow, Valley, 3pm

Round 5 Results 5 May 2012

Maheno, written off prior to the game against the competition leaders, produced a committed display of tenacious rugby to almost shattered Old Boys reputation. The green and black forward pack outweighed and outpaced in the loose tied the ball up front and its pick and go took the game to a loose Old Boys forward pack.

Maheno prop Chris Hole opened the scoring with a try which Michael Hore converted. Maheno held Old Boys at bay until five minutes from halftime when Lio Havilli scored for Fala Fagasoaia to convert.

Havilli went in for his second try two minutes into the second half to put Old Boys in front for the first time in the game and two minutes later from a tap penalty Old Boys centre Adam Barnard scored between the posts for Fagasoaia to convert. Fagasoaia finished off a 70 metre movement with a try which he converted in the 64th minute and two minutes later replacement half Panua Fariu scampered 30 metres to score for Fagasoaia to convert.

In a free flowing game Valley continued its rise up the competition ladder with a deserved 22-6 win over second placed Excelsior. Valley produced an impenetrable defence denying Excelsior a try.
Five minutes into the game Valley centre Mark Roney touched down for an unconverted try before new winger Tevita Tupou scored the first of his two tries for Roney to convert and take Valley out to a 12-0 lead. Billy Guyton kicked a penalty in the 19th minute but a try to open-side flanker Cameron Rowland just on halftime gave Valley a 17-3 lead. Guyton kicked his second penalty ten minutes into the second half before Tupou raced in for his second try to complete the scoring.

The McKenzie/Craik Challenge trophy will be played for over the next two rounds with the holder defending the trophy on its home ground.

The Citizens Shield final will be played on the 28 July and the North Otago Heartland team will play warm-up games against Mid Canterbury in Oamaru on 11 August and against South Canterbury in Waimate on Saturday, 18 August while the North Otago Development XV will begin its programme on 4.August

Changes have been made with the Hanan Shield. Holders North Otago have initiated a change which will see the Shield up for grabs on both home and away games.

At this stage of Citizens Shield rugby it appears that which club beats Old Boys will be a strong contender for the Shield. Olds Boys has been impressive with its tactics built on a strong physical forward pack and a backline that makes astute use of possession with its ability to counterattack from anywhere on the paddock a situation which will sorely test Maheno tomorrow.

Excelsior meets Valley at Weston in a match which should be closely contested. Excelsior with three wins from four games looks favoured but Valley showed evidence that its slow start may well be accelerating after its 54-3 win over Maheno last week.

Kurow hosts Athletic Marist a team which has won only one of its four games so far. Lack of cohesion and the obvious ignorance of the game plan has caused its earlier downfalls. Tomorrow will be a chance to begin the climb back.

Tai Ahalelei (Old Boys) leads the points scorers with 70 followed by Excelsior’s Billy Guyton with 65.
There will be a curtain raiser to the Old Boys/Maheno game tomorrow when Waitaki Boys High School First XV plays James Hargest First XV at 1.00p.m.

By Terry O’Neill.

It was the typical game of two halves in the Old Boys/Athletic Marist game. Athletic with a try to prop Siosifa Mafua and a penalty to Etuini Latu in the first five minutes took the side out to an 8-0 lead. Old Boys dominated the rest of the spell scoring five tries to lock Sale Pii(2), winger Harry Frost, lock Paea Ala, midfielder Hamish McCulloch with first five eighth Tai Ahalelei converting all five tries and adding two penalties.

Old Boys game lost its structure in the final 40 minutes as individuality saw Old Boys lose its cohesion and Athletic Marist fought back to outscore Old Boys ,14-5 in the second half. Athletic Marist was inspired by an outstanding display from number eight, Viliami Leo who scored two tries with Latu converting both tries.

It was a Billy Guyton benefit as Excelsior trounced Kurow 47-0 with centre Guyton scoring two tries and converting six of his sides seven tries .Excelsior led 7-0 at the end of the first quarter with prop Jamie Rhodes touching down for Guyton to convert. Winger Ryan McGeown added the second try and Guyton’s conversion gave Excelsior a 14-0 halftime lead. Excelsior took control in the second half with Guyton scoring two tries, McGeown added his second, halfback Ray Gutsell touched down with fullback Chris Talanoa adding the final try with Guyton kicking four conversions.

The floodgates opened at the Maheno Domain when Valley after a slow start to the season scored ten tries in its 54-3 defeat of Maheno. Valley led 27-3 at halftime. Maheno fullback Mike Hore kicked a penalty to give his side an early 3-0 lead but Valley replied with tries to flanker Cameron Rowland, number eight Blair Malcolm, winger Matt Pile, fullback Jason Mavor and first five eighth Hamish McKenzie with Mark Roney converting only one of the tries.

Valley repeated the dose in the second half with Pile getting two further tries, halfback Nick Webster, Brad Morton and winger Dean Paterson scoring with Roney again only converting one of the tries.

North Otago Rugby Results 28 April 2012

Citizens Shield Round 4

Old Boys 46 (H Frost 2, S Pii 2, P Ala, H McCulloch tries; T Halelei 2 pen,5 con), Athletic Marist 22(V Leo 2, S Mafua tries; E Latu pen, 2 con) HT: 41-8 Old Boys.

Excelsior 47 (R McGeown 2, W Guyton 2, J Rhodes, R Gutsell, C Talanoa tries; Guyton 6 con) Kurow 0. HT: 29-32 Excelsior.

Valley 54 (M Pile 3, C Rowland 2, H McKenzie, J Mavor, B Morton, N Webster, D Paterson; M Roney 2 con), Maheno 3 (M Hore pen). HT: 29-3 Valley.

Next week’s draw: Old Boys v Maheno; Kurow v Athletic Maroon; Valley v Excelsior.

Round 4 Results 28 April 2012

Presidents grade: Athletic 40, Valley 31.

First XV: Waitaki Boys High School 25, Dunstan High School 12;

South Otago High School 39, St Kevin’s College 17.

Here’s a few random photos from our galleries – to view more photos, please visit our photos page.

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Old Boys 36 (M Taiti, F Bloxham, A Barnard, (2 ) T Aholelei , P Famoana tries; Aholelei   3 con); Valley 20 ( J Collier 2, N Webster tries; M Roney pen, con).HT  19-10 Old Boys.

Kurow  22 ( D Malcolm, M Patterson(2), R Laughton tries; G van Uuuren con), Maheno 15 ( R Chellew, T Dwyer tries; M Hore pen, con)HT:  7-3 Kurow. 

Next week’s draw: Subway Excelsior v Kurow; Maheno v Valley; Old Boys v Athletic Marist

Rugby Union officials were feverishly searching for the keys to the swabbing box as Subway Excelsior raced out to a 24-10 halftime lead over traditional rivals Athletic Marist.  The feature of the first half was the aggressive play of the Subway Excelsior forwards led by an inspirational prop Rangi Hepi who with the ball in hand, frequently burst the opposition defence.  In the backs player coach Jason Forrest made productive use of the possession and with the forwards dominating the breakdown in the first 40 minutes Subway Excelsior scored tries to winger Chris Bart (5^th), midfielder Chris Talanoa (27^th) and winger Willie Nehoff (31^st) with Billy Guyton converting all three of the tries and adding a penalty.

Athletic Marist left winger Gwyn Edwards latched onto a weak clearing kick from Guyton in the tenth minute to put Athletic Marist on the board and two minutes from halftime prop Semissi Prescott scored an unconverted try.

Athletic Marist lifted its game in the second half with lock Dylan Winter scoring after a 30 metre rolling maul and at the end of the third quarter Athletic Marist pressure paid off again when Sione Pangata’a touched down for fullback Matt Egan to convert and reduce the deficit to two points. Guyton then kicked penalties in the 62^nd and 78^th minutes before Athletic Marist’s Aisea Fisilau scored for Egan to convert.

Old Boys outscored Valley by six tries to three and after leading 19-10 at halftime went on to a 36-20 victory.  Old Boys raced out to a 12-0 lead when centre Adam Barnard went in for tries in the second and seventh minutes with first five eighth Tai Aholelei converting one of the tries.  Mark Roney kicked a penalty for Valley midway through the half before a try to winger Finn Bloxham which Aholelei converted took Old Boys out to a 19-3 lead.  Valley hooker Josh Collier scored the first of his two tries and Roney’s conversion made it 19-10 at halftime.

Tries to Aholelei and flanker Manu Taiti in the 47^th and 52^nd minutes carried Old Boys out to a 29-10 lead before midway through the spell Collier scored his second. Old Boys half Taia Famoana scored Old Boys final try which Aholelei converted before Nick Webster scored a consolation try for Valley in the final moments.

After a scoreless first quarter Maheno’s Mike Hore kicked a penalty to give his side a 3-0 lead after 24 minutes.  The lead was short lived as Kurow midfielder Dean Malcolm touched down for Gus van Uuuren to convert to give the home side a 7-3 halftime lead.

A Riki Chellew try and a Hore conversion put Maheno back in front but two tries to Kurow hooker Michael Patterson in the 49^th and 55^th minutes took Kurow out to a 17-10 lead.  Five minutes later Tom Dwyer scored an unconverted try before Regan Laughton came off the bench to score a late unconverted try for Kurow.

Valley meets Kurow at Kurow and unless Kurow can stiffen its defence, then another points blowout is on the cards, while Maheno, which hosts Athletic Marist, will be hoping that its forward pack can match the physical presence of Athletic Marist led by number eight and captain Tevita Fifita and big Welsh lock Jon George.

Old Boys should beat Excelsior by 12 and under, while Valley and Athletic Marist, unless there are upsets, will both win by 13 and over.

North Otago is obviously a rugby magnet for overseas players especially after the selection of Tom Wood in the English side in 2011.  Chris Bart from the Henley club has returned for a second season with Excelsior.  Jon George and Gwyn Edwards both  from Wales, are playing for Athletic Marist.  Adam Barnard of the Shelfold Club is a midfielder playing for Old Boys; Elliott Booley a prop from Loughborough University is up at Kurow, while 19 year old prop Chris Hole from the Glamorgan Wanderers Club is playing for Maheno.  Other players coming later this month are a 17 year old halfback from the Wasps Academy, Jack Daly, James Smith a lock from the Maidenhead club which produced Ryan Long and Jamie Townsend and Charlie Hughes a prop from the Old Albanians club who will be at Valley.