Bartercard Cup - Round 13 results

Round 13 of New Zealand's Bartercard Cup has the Canterbury Bulls move to within 2 points of competition leaders, Hibiscus Coast Raiders, after their game in Christchurch. The top 5 for the playoffs now look settled, although a late charge by the North Harbour Tigers might just upset the apple cart.

First result in is from Henham Park where the Otahuhu Leopards came away with the victory over the Glenora Bears by 34-24, after the Bears were up by 18-16 at halftime.

Otahuhu Leopards 34 (M. Vatuvei 2, T. Noovao, G. Tuakura, E. Mann, B. Vaeau, tries; T. Laiseni 5 goals)

defeated

Glenora Bears 24 (S. Halatoa, B. Valeni, L. Toli, K. Edmonson tries; T. Edwards 3 goals; A. Clyde goal). Halftime: 16-18.

On Saturday Manawatu's Central Falcons were beaten 42-14 by North Harbour Tigers at Birkenhead. It was a tough ask for the visiting Falcons, but after being only 2 points down at the break, it looked as though there could be an upset. The Tigers though proved too strong in the end, running away with the game in the second half.

North Harbour Tigers 42 (K. Johnson 3, K. Ganley 2, R. Retimana, L. Copestake, A. Aukafolou tries; Retimana 5 goals)

defeated

Central Falcons 14 (W. Live, N. Coburn, L. Vete tries; D. Wilson goal).

Halftime: 16-14.

As expected the Marist Richmond Brothers side posted a lot of points when they travelled down to take on the Taranaki Wildcats on Saturday afternoon, finally winning by 76-12. The win puts the Marist side well placed in the Top 5 ready for the playoffs.

Marist Richmond 76 (R. Henry 3, B. Collins, J. Tavita 3, G. Rota 2, J. Kellet, H. Turua 2, K. Guttenbeil, S. Lavea, C. Seu tries; Rota 8 goals)

defeated

Taranaki Wildcats 12 (B. Ngata 2 tries; D. Rameka 2 goals).

Halftime: 38-4.

Front-row forward Vince Whare was almost unstoppable as the Canterbury Bulls scored a courageous 30-14 victory over leaders Hibiscus Coast Raiders in a Bartercard Cup rugby league match on Saturday.

Whare, using his 125kg physique to shoulder his way past or through the tiring defence, finished off the Raiders with a three-try burst which took the Bulls from 10-14 to 28-14 in just nine minutes.

The Bulls trailed by 14 points after 22 minutes at Rugby League Park before scoring 30 unanswered points in the second half to clinch a play-off spot. It was Hibiscus Coast's second loss in 13 matches and cut their lead over the Bulls to just two points, with three rounds left.

Canterbury Bulls 30 (V. Whare 3, E. Hei Hei, C. Newton tries; J. O'Brien 5 goals)

defeated

Hibiscus Coast Raiders 14 (J. Vaifale, D. Fisher, R. Wigg tries; D. Floyd goal).

Halftime: 0-14.

With the halftime score of 10-6 favouring the Manuwera Marlins over Mt Albert Lions, it looked like a repeat of the victory to Manuwera when these two teams met in an earlier round in the 2003 competition. But it was not to be as the Lions hit back well to take the match 28-16.

Mt Albert Lions 28 (A. Bauer, H. Vafsa 2, L. Talamavao, S. Collins tries; B. Lythe 4 goals)

defeated

Manurewa Marlins 16 (G. Eliki, D. Hemopo, D. Letele tries; T. Pamatangi 2 goals).

Halftime: 6-10.

Avalon rugby club first five-eighth Darren Kapene came close to kicking the Wellington national rugby league team to victory in a surprise appearance at Porirua Park yesterday.

In what may be a fleeting appearance, centre Kapene succeeded with six of his eight shots at goal in Wellington's 46-40 Bartercard Cup loss to the well performed Eastern Manukau Tornadoes.

Wellington probably lost yesterday in a five-minute period in the third quarter. From being ahead 24-18 Wellington slipped behind 36-24, and spent the remainder of the game playing catch-up to leave them rooted near the foot of the table.

The performance was a big improvement on their 54-12 early season loss to the Tornadoes.

Eastern Tornadoes 46 (S. Faitala 2, D. Fisiiahi, N. Ngametua, R. Gentles, N. Scanlon, F. Tupou, T. Pulini tries; J. Noble 7 goals)

defeated

Wellington 40 (J. Limmer 2, J. Tamanika 2, S. Helu, J. Monu, R. Leafe, tries; D. Kapene 6 goals). Halftime: 18-18.

Results from Round 13:

July 26th - 27th.

Otahuhu Leopards 34 - Glenora Bears 24 North Harbour Tigers 42 - Central Falcons 14 Marist Richmond 76 - Taranaki Wildcats 12 Canterbury Bulls 30 - Hibiscus Coast Raiders 14 Mt Albert Lions 28 - Manurewa Marlins 16 Eastern Tornadoes 46 - Wellington 40