Team:
Sanalio Taunauta, Bailey Oliedam, Kuli Kaituu, Aaron Preest, Patrick O’Sullivan, James Parton, Travis Williamson, Sam Bowley, Zach Cathcart, Kip Fowcett, Jerome Nonoa, Josh Young, Herewini Barlow, Logan Allen, Regan Osborne.
Reserves:
Thomas Dickson,Taylor Hayes, Nicholas McCurran , Shelby Loomans, Caleb Loomans, John Vanderwee.
This week the boys travelled to Auckland for the biggest challenge so far this season. The Harlequins kicked off and were under the pump straight away. Auckland dominated the first 5 minutes and were rewarded by a good try down the right hand side. That pressure continued and 4 minutes later Auckland went over for the second try of the afternoon. Like the first, they were both converted successfully. Auckland had all the play for the next 11 minutes and scored again through some skill full forward play. They also converted this try. Finally the Harlequins started to string some phases together but this was not to last long as Auckland scored again of the back of a lineout in the 32nd minute. They got their 4th conversion for the afternoon and looked very much in control. Three minutes before half time both teams had their opportunities but went into the half without scoring any more points.
The second half started much like the first when Auckland took control and broke through the Harlequins defence to score 5 minutes into the second half. This shocked the Harlequins and they must have been wondering what they had to do to stop this Auckland pack. They re-grouped and started to play some rugby. From the kick off the Harlequins finally got into the game, attacking the Auckland line through some good forward play. Ten minutes later Sanalio Taunata went over for the Harlequins first points of the game. His try went unconverted. For the next 15min the Harlequins started to settle into their own game plan with some good free flowing rugby. Auckland weren’t about to lie down and attacked again. This time they fell short on 2 or 3 occasions after some good Harlequins defence. The Harlequin team then got some reward with good field position through Logan Allen’s boot and after an Auckland knock on they had a scrum in midfield 30 metre out from Auckland’s line. The backs strung together some good set pieces and then the forward pack worked there magic before Travis Williamson went over for the Harlequins second try of the day. Logan Allen stepped up and converted the try. Clearly Auckland was the better team on the day taking control of the first half 28 points to nil, but nice to see the Harlequins came back and out played the Auckland team in the second half winning this half 12 points to 5.
