Wins for Bulls and Whio

Win at home for Whio

Will Johnston

The Taranaki Whio claimed its second win of the Farah Palmer Cup beating Tasman 34-12 at Inglewood’s TET Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

In what was just the third outing between the two teams, Taranaki scored six tries to two in the match.

It backed up its first win in the competition at the same ground last year, when it beat North Harbour 32-29.

Taranaki bagged 17 unanswered points after leading 17-12 at halftime.

Captain Chelsea Fowler was blown away by the team’s third round performance.  

“[It’s] just amazing, we worked so hard for this, and the girls just had all that self-belief and we’re on our home soil, so it feels so good to be here,” she told Sky Sport.

Fowler herself scored a try in the second half from player-of-the-match Aroha Nuku.

“She’s a workhorse,” she said of Nuku.

“I know and trust she’s going to be with me. We know how to support one another.”

Fowler said the many young players in the squad fit in and bring energy to the squad.

Nuku bagged a brace in the match, scoring on either side of the break.

She also gained several meters up field for Taranaki and played a pivotal role off the back of the solid scrum.  

Taranaki’s ball handling was excellent aided by the perfect conditions. The backline was able to move the ball freely and put its wingers 16-year-old Keighly Simpson and Paige Neilson into space. Unfortunately, Neilson left the field in the first half with a dislocated shoulder.

Simpson scored a second half try on her wing after quick thinking from halfback Kelsyn McCook.

First-five eight Chloe Sampson kicked two conversions from six attempts.

Tiana Davison and Hannah McLean scored a try each in the first half.

For Tasman, Eve Findlay scored a try on her wing and Samoan sevens representative Sui Pauaraisa dotted down before halftime. Findlay was able to convert the second conversion.

Taranaki travel to North Harbour next weekend, while Tasman are in Northland.

Taranaki Whio 34 (T Davison, H McLean, C Fowler, K Simpson, A Nuku 2 tries; C Sampson 2 con) Tasman 12 (E Finlay, M Pauaraisa tries; Finlay con) HT: 17-12.
 

Taranaki secure win ahead of opening round

Grant Hassall

A powerful first 40 minutes set up the Yarrows Taranaki Bulls for another impressive victory in its final pre-season rugby fixture against Waikato in Te Kuiti on Friday.

Taranaki won the clash 29-12, having led 19-7 at the break. It was the second week in a row that Taranaki, which is based in the second-tier championship section of the Bunnings NPC, have beaten a premiership side. That augurs well for the much-anticipated opening competition match against Hawke’s Bay at Pukekura Park this coming Saturday.

Kini Naholo, who has spent the majority of the season injured, took the opportunity for some game time. In excellent conditions, Naholo apricated with two tries.

The first was scored after just four minutes. It followed a breakdown steal by Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, and smart play by the Taranaki forwards, with some long passing getting the ball to the other side of field where Naholo cut inside Bailyn Sullivan to score.

But Sullivan replied in kind eight minutes later, slicing through Fin Hoeata and Tom Florence to score, after Waikato had enjoyed a period on attack.

However, Taranaki made the majority of play in the first half, with the starting front row of Reuben O’Neill, Ricky Riccitelli and former Irish international Michael Bent in a punishing mood.

Riccitelli, though, didn’t see out the first quarter, injuring his shoulder when he attacked a ruck.

However, there is depth in this Taranaki squad, with both other hookers, Bradley Slater and Millienium Sanerivi, giving good accounts of themselves, too. The initial word was that Riccitelli’s injury is nothing serious.

After 24 minutes, Taranaki regained the lead after it drove well from the lineout and rumbled twice, before Jesse Parete dived over the top of the ruck near the Waikato line to score.

Stephen Perofeta claimed the third try five minutes before halftime. After Waikato had conceded a number of penalties in quick succession, Liam Blyde took a quick tap, and via the hands of Tei Walden, Perofeta, playing at fullback, slid over in the tackle. Jacomb converted two of the first half tries, in a slightly less convincing performance, before Daniel Waite took over the 10 jersey.

Taranaki continued to hold sway in the second half. After a patient build up, which featured Johnny Faleatagoa’i-Malase, Naholo grabbed his second early in the half.

A good period of play from Waikato followed, with Mosese Dawai scoring, before Taranaki completed the scoring with the try of the match.

Taranaki took a turnover on its own 22, moving the ball through a number of pairs of hands to advance downfield. It then switched to the other side of the field, with Sanerivi the finisher. Perofeta missed both second half conversions.

Yarrows Taranaki Bulls 29 (K Nahoho 2, J Parete, S Perofeta, M Sanerivi tries; J Jacomb 2 cons) Waikato 12 (B Sullivan, M Dawai tries; C Miln con). HT: 19-7.