Blaketown to slick for Kiwi
By Matt Kersten

Kiwi were not able to hand Blaketown an upset on Saturday but they did provide a scare as the Hokitika men went down 20-8 at Rugby Park, Greymouth.

South Westland, meanwhile, beat an out-of sorts Marist team 35-7, at Harihari. Leading 8-6 at halftime, the prospect of a loss prompted the Blaketown coaches to inject fresh legs on to the field, including second-five Lance McEwen, who would go on to score a try and set up
another.

The slippery field and ball caused plenty of mistakes, although in the first 40 minutes Blaketown committed most of them. The lack of traction helped Kiwi as it limited Blaketown’s ball-runners.
It took 17 minutes for the first points to be scored — an easy penalty for Blaketown wing Beau Cain after one of his forwards was collared in a tackle.

Although the Seagulls were lacking their usual cohesion with the ball, Cain added another three points from in front. Th e whole Kiwi side showed admirable defence throughout the first half, the likes of Lee Foster did not shy away from taking down Blaketown’s big men, such as Gordie Iafeta and Brad Houston.

After finally getting their hands on the ball, Kiwi held on to it and threatened to score. Blaketown conceded a penalty and fullback Dale Green kicked it over. Th en, in a planned play from a scrum on halfway, Horano Wilson flew through to gather a pinpoint Sean McClure kick and touch down in the corner.

Kiwi held off a late Blaketown attack to go into the sheds with the lead. The urgency among the Blaketown players was obvious as the second half began. McEwen made a rare break from his end of the fi eld and Houston ended up scoring after charging through the middle of the Kiwi defenders, who could not manage to slow him down.

Blaketown camped in Kiwi’s right corner for much of the remaining second half, the teams barely moving from that end of the field as the multitude of mistakes hampered play. McEwen swooped in for his own try before the final whistle, gunning for the gap and shrugging off the tacklers.
Green opened up play several times for Kiwi from the back, while Daniel Tauwhare’s inclusion at halfback added to the strength of the backs.

Houston has put his hand up for West Coast selection as he benefits from a higher work rate and cooler head than last season.

Results.

Blaketown 20 (B Houston, L McEwen tries; B Cain 2 pens, 2 cons),
Kiwi 8 (H Wilson try; D Green pen);

South Westland 35 (C Scott 2, R Wilson, D Treanor, C Nolan, O Pamment tries; C Deans pen, con)
Marist 7 (M Mudu try, con).

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Matt Kersten
Greymouth Star Newspaper