Team:
Sanalio Taunauta, Bailey Oliedam, Kuli Kaituu, Aaron Preest, Patrick O’Sullivan, James Parton, Travis Williamson, Sam Bowley, Nicholas McCurran, Kip Fowcett, Shanan Tomuri, Jerome Nonoa, Herewini Barlow, Chey Riki Hamana, Logan Allen.
Reserves:
Taylor Hayes, Shelby Loomans, Kalani Beattie, Josh Young, Zac Cathcart, Caleb Loomans, Regan Osborne
This week the boys travelled to Rugby Park in Te Kuiti to play King Country U18. The first half got underway with the Harlequins kicking off. There were plenty of good line breaks from both sides and no one really dominated the first 10 minutes of play. Good pressure was applied and after some solid lead up from the forward pack the Harlequins crashed over in the 16th minute to score their first try by Sanalio Taunata. Logan Alan who got a start at fullback this week stepped up and just missed the conversion.
From the kick off King Country attacked the Harlequins out wide before bringing it back into their forward pack and rumbling it into the Harlequins 22. After this the King Country team had some messy play and the Harlequins swung into action.
After a good clean break out wide, Jerome Nonoa managed to bet the defence inside and out before calving off 65 metres up the left hand side of the field. Unfortunately the Harlequins could not secure the ball and King County managed to clear back up the field. From the line out King Country was awarded a penalty 25 metres out on the right hand side of the field but could not convert. 2 minutes later King Country were awarded another penalty which they kicked 5 metres out from the Harlequins try line. From the line out the Harlequins secured the ball and managed to dominate down the field before Sam Bowley scored a well-deserved try. Logan slotted the penalty and the Harlequins went into half time 12 nil up.
The second half had even more action, after getting underway 5minutes into the half the Harlequins managed to dominate the King Country forward pack and Sam was rewarded again by bursting over for a second try 15 metres to the right hand side of the goal post. Logan converted the try. King Country were not about to lie down. From the kick off they managed to secure the ball and spread it wide to score there only try of the match which they could not convert. 5 minutes later the Harlequins got a penalty 30 metres out from the King Country line and replacement fullback Regan Osborne nailed the penalty.
For the next 5 minutes the teams entertained the crowd with some free flowing rugby before Regan Osborne made a good break down the right hand side of the field to score. Unfortunately his try was not converted. More pressure was applied by the Harlequins who were dominating the game. After some really skill full play Regan Osborne carved the defence up single handily running 55 metres to score underneath the posts. He then converted his own try from straight in front. Both teams then battled away for the next 5 minutes with some good running rugby until fulltime were the Harlequins walked away with their first win for 2013.
