Team:
Sanalio Taunauta, Bailey Oliedam , Kuli Kaituu, Aaron Preest, Timothy Amai, James Parton, Travis Williamson, Cameron Petch, Nicholas McCurran , Shanan Tomuri , Zach Bell, Josh Young, Herewini Barlow, John Vanderwee, Regan Osborne.
Reserves:
Thomas Dickson, Taylor Hayes, Shelby Loomans, Logan Allen, Jerome Nonoa, Jordan Plamer, Chey Riki Hamana
9.30 Friday morning Dave from Karapiro Charters loaded the Harlequins boys/sponsors and top brass on board and set the GPS for Kerikeri. Each season the Harlequins are treated to a trip away and this year it was against the Northland Vikings in Kerikeri. After lunch on the river bank in Puhoi, the boys got to sit back and enjoy the sight of the far north. Later that afternoon the boys worked up a hunger during their captains run before being treated to five star meals and accommodation at the Woodlands Motel & Conference Venue in Kerikeri. Wendy and Tony went out of their way to looked after the boys.
This week’s game was against a very big and strong looking Northland Vikings side. Conditions were overcast and the rain poured at times making the game a little messy now and then. However a good crowd still turned out to watch some good free flowing rugby. The Harlequins team kicked off with the wind behind them and the game started with both teams testing each other early, spinning the ball from side to side before settling into some grunt work up front. The Vikings side looked the bigger team but this didn’t seem to worry the Harlequin boys, as they ran the big boys around the field making the most of their opportunities. Five minutes into the game the Vikings got a chance to feed their back line and they made the most of it scoring the first try of the afternoon. It went unconverted. This must have sparked up the Harlequin boys as they cut loose for the next 30 minutes. First Travis Williamson appear from a ruck 30 meters out from the Vikings line surprising everyone and sprinting away to score 12 meters from the left hand upright. Regan Osborne stepped up and converted his try.
The boys then used the wind putting the ball deep into the Vikings corner and applied more pressure. From the lineout the Vikings were trapped ten out from their line and Cameron Petch was rewarded for his hard work going over for the Harlequins second of the day. Regan again converts from out wide. The Vikings defense was starting to break down and James Parton the Harlequins captain took full advantage turning the Vikings inside out before he also went over for a very good try. This was also converted by Regan. The Harlequins made a mess of the kick off and the Vikings managed to get their hands on the ball for a while. They attacked for the next five minutes but turned the ball over again and the Harlequins pounced setting the back line alight. The forward pack trailed in behind and Sanalio Taunata one of the Harlequins top try scores this season was on hand again to score yet another great try. This was also converted by Regan and the Harlequins went into the break up 28 points to 5.
Thomas Dickson replaced Bailey Oliedam at hooker at half time and it wasn’t long before the rest of the reserves got their chance five and ten minutes into the second half as the coaching staff of Deane Cage and Eru Brodie empted out the bench to give everyone plenty of game time. The second half started much like the first with both sides using every opportunity they could to make the most of some good ball from their forward packs. The crowd would have been happy with the free flowing rugby that both sides were putting on in some pretty trying conditions. The Harlequins backline looked sharp and were led by assistant captain and first five Shanan Tomuri. He also went over 15 minutes into the second half after curving the Vikings backline apart with a well thought out try. Logan Allen had replaced Regan Osborne at full back and took over the kick duties, he also converted. The Harlequins seemed to be in control now and were playing some fantastic rugby giving the crowd plenty to cheer about. As time was drawing to an end Chey Riki Hamama showed off his skills crossing for another very good try. Logan converted again before the ref called time in the far north. The Harlequins running away with it 42 points to 5.
