Mud Dogs’ bite

Pleasant Point pulled off the upset of the Hamersley Cup with a great 22-19 win over front runners Waimate.

The sixth-placed Mud Dogs also kept their chances of a semi-final spot alive with fullback Kayne Robinson landing a last-minute penalty to snatch the win after trailing 12-3 at the break.

Pleasant Point’s front rowers Jake Harrison and Ben Hewitson impressed as they dominated up front while Hori Robson impressed on the wing and then at centre.

The bad news for Point was losing talented loose forward Jack Kingsford for the season with a broken ankle.

Waimate paid the price for a lack of continuity but the loss will serve as a wake-up call for the business end of the season.

Fullback Dan Patterson and centre Matt Hayman were the pick of the Waimate side while up front prop Tokoa’ata Fakatava worked hard as did loose forward Tomote Tuipulotu.

Geraldine hang tough

Defending champions Celtic ground out a less than impressive 17-14 win at the Raukapuka Reserve.

Celtic front rowers Garret Casey and Bill Logavatu monstered the Geraldine scrum in the first half but that domination was not reflected on the scoreboard, up only 14-7 at the break thanks to some outstanding Geraldine defence.

With a man in the bin Celtic scored two tries, the first to centre Zac Saunders who just proved too hard to pull down and then Logavatu went over from a lineout with Willie Wright converting both.

A brilliant one-on-one steal from Geraldine’s Kadin Tenana on No.8 Kali Latu, saw the little halfback scamper 40m to score right on half time and No.8 BJ Oliver landed the conversion to keep his side in the game.

A Wright penalty extended Celtic’s lead but midway through the half Geraldine centre Matt Dickson made a great run and Oliver was on hand to score and then added the conversion to make it 17-14.

Geraldine then had a couple of good opportunities out wide to score but blew them before Celtic ground their way back up field and were held up twice over the line in the final minutes.

For Celtic their front rowers impressed along with captain Nick Strachan. In the backs Wright played well while centre Willy Taylor also impressed.

Oliver was a standout-out for Geraldine while lock Craig Moore and Marac Beckham never gave up in a pack that did some big defence.

Tenana was polished at halfback while centre Dickson made some strong runs.

The win allowed Celtic to share top spot with Waimate with three rounds left to play before the finals

Harlequins make Rams work

Mackenzie’s rollercoaster season continued with a bonus point 32-24 win over Harlequins.

The win was the first ever for the Rams over Harlequins in a round robin game in Timaru, so they had the pleasure of taking home the Saunders Shield.

Harlequins gave Mackenzie a head start with two early tries, to be down 14-0 and then a late one inflated the score in an otherwise confidence building performance for the struggling side.

For Mackenzie lock Veikoso Poloniati was outstanding in both the lineouts and in the loose while centre Setefano Sauqaqa was involved in everything. The return of George Lott at first five also helped direct the side.

Harlequins best were No.8 Teki Veikune, centre Kiha Rigby and wing Sireli Buliruarua while prop Miekel MacDonald got over for his first senior try.

Temuka rout Old Boys

Lock Solomone Lavaka starred for the Magpies with four tries in a superb performance.

It is the second time this season he has bagged four and no wonder the Tongan Sevens side were interested in him.

In the end Temuka ran in 13 tries, to eight different players, including four tight forwards.

Caleb King put in a tidy performance while Pangi Iketau made a big impact off the bench against a tiring Old Boys outfit.

For Old Boys Fullback Brad Tunnicliffe impressed, loose forward Finn Hunt tried all day while prop Luke Haslam had some good carries.

Points: Waimate 45, Celtic 45, Mackenzie 34, Geraldine 32, Temuka 32, Pleasant Point 28, Harlequins 7, Old Boys 0

Next Saturday

Bonus points could prove crucial as the six sides vying for semi-final spots all face-off.

Home ground advantage could prove crucial for Geraldine who host a resurgent Pleasant Point outfit.

An improving Temuka also head to Waimate with high hopes as the hosts have been struggling to repeat their first-round form.

Likewise, Mackenzie will need to put their best forward against Celtic at Alpine Energy Stadium.

An improving Harlequins will not have it all their own way against Old Boys at School Park.

UC Championship

Timaru Boys’ High School First XV were beaten 11-8 by third placed Lincoln Combined in a much-improved performance. James Davidson stepped up again and as did locking partner Ryan Lewthwaite while Ben Sands played well in a switch to the openside. Fullback Ryan Greenslade also impressed in a much better defensive from last season’s finalists.

Roncalli Aoraki Combined face St Thomas in their annual interschool midweek.

In the local schoolgirl competition Craighead proved too good for Roncalli winning 41-0 with Emily Smith scoring two excellent tries, with Nikita Clements and Georgie Dickson also playing well. Timaru Girls’ High School got past Geraldine 42-10.