NZ Bartercard Cup - Round 12
review

A stand out performance by the Mt Albert Lions over the 2003 Bartercard Cup champions, the Canterbury Bulls, sees the Lions move into second place on the competition table, just pushing Otahuhu Ellerslie from the placing on points difference. With the Bulls back home in Christchurch hosting Otahuhu Ellerslie, they'll be looking to find their winning form once again.

Once again Marist Richmond Brothers showed why they are the leaders at this stage, being pushed all the way by the young Wellington side but able to hold onto the win, and the two valuable competition points in the end.

Wellington will take on the Glenora side in Round 13 while Marist Richmond Brothers play the Eastern Tornadoes on Sunday afternoon.

In a sometimes messy match which saw 3 players sin-binned, the Glenora Bears scraped home to grab the victory over a Raiders smarting from losing a competition point last weekend against Wellington when the Hibiscus Coast management decided the field in Wellington was unsafe to play.

The Raiders once more have a home game when the Central Falcons will be looking for another win under their belt when the two sides meet in the next round on Saturday afternoon.

The Wai-Coa-Bay Stallions losing streak extended to seven games following a 35-26 loss to the Central Falcons in Round 12 at Davies Park, Huntly, on Saturday. "It's just the basic stuff that we're struggling to understand. The Falcons deserved to get the win, they played well. Seven losses in a row, it's tough to get the monkey off our backs," Stallions coach Tawera Nikau said.

The Falcons are starting to put together some solid performances and may upset a few of the top teams in the latter stages of the competition.

The Stallions, who remained ninth despite the loss, travel to North Harbour Stadium in round 13 to meet the fifth-placed North Harbour Tigers.

In the other game on the weekend, the North Harbour Tigers showed they are well in contention for the play-offs in a high scoring match at Papakura on Sunday where the Counties Manakau Jetz made them work hard for their points in a very exciting game.

The Jetz have the tough assignment in Round 13 when they travel to the home ground of Mt Albert on Saturday afternoon.

BARTERCARD CUP RESULTS - ROUND 12:

Saturday 24 July 2004

Hibiscus Coast Raiders vs Glenora Bears Stanmore Bay Reserve, Whangaparaoa

Glenora Bears 24 M. Toelau, C. Waide, T. Papali'i, A. Konelio (2) : Tries B. Stewart (2) : Goals

Hibiscus Coast Raiders 22 J. Vaifale, C. Te Kiri, M. Ashe, D. Avega : Tries C. Shears, T. Thompson (2) : Goals

Halftime Score : 12 - 10 To Glenora Bears

Waicoa Bay Stallions vs Central Falcons Davies Park, Huntly

Central Falcons 35 W. Live, G.Kerrisk, R. Hurunui, D. Fa'apito, D. Lomax (2) : Tries N. Hohaia (5) : Goals N. Hohaia (1) : Field Goal

Waicoa Bay Stallions 26 J. Auru, V. Moana-Mason, N. Kaa, S. Rapira. K. Tumoana : Tries T. Matthews (3) : Goals

Halftime Score : 28 - 16 To Central Falcons

Sunday 25 July 2004

Mt Albert Lions vs Canterbury Bulls Fowlds Park, Auckland

Mt Albert Lions 42 A. Bauer, L. Talamavao, R. Godfrey (2), M. Manu (4) : Tries S. Buckingham (5) : Goals

Canterbury Bulls 12 R. Hanson, C. Lawrie : Tries M. Clarkson (2) : Goals

Halftime Score : 10 - 6 To Mt Albert Lions

Wellington vs Marist Richmond Brothers Hutt Recreation Ground, Wellington

Marist Richmond Brothers 30 J. Tiavale, M. Taulapapa, R. Seuala, K. Guttenbeil, R. Henry (2) : Tries G. Rota (3) : Goals

Wellington 28 S. Mannering, T. Brown, C. Savali, J. Carnegie (2) : Tries J. MacDonald (4) : Goals

Halftime Score : 20 - 14 To Marist Richmond Brothers

Counties Manukau Jetz vs North Harbour Tigers Massey Park Papakura, Auckland

North Harbour Tigers 40 G. Macpherson, K. Johnson, J. Trott, J. Kamareira, J. Golf (3) : Tries J Trott (6) : Goals

Counties Manukau Jetz 30 G. Eliki, J. Ioapo, S. Fa'alogo (2), P. Tafea (2) : Tries L. Finnerty (1), A. Clyde (2) : Goals

Halftime Score : 14 - 14

BARTERCARD CUP FIXTURES - ROUND 13:

Saturday 31 July 2004

Wellington vs Glenora Bears Wise Park, Wellington 2.30pm Kick Off

Mt Albert Lions vs Counties Manukau Jetz Fowlds Park, Auckland 2.30pm Kick O

Hibiscus Coast Raiders vs Central Falcons Stanmore Bay Reserve, Whangaparaoa 2.30pm Kick Off

Canterbury Bulls vs Otahuhu Ellerslie Rugby League Park, Christchurch 6.00pm Kick Off

Sunday 1 August 2004

Eastern Tornadoes vs Marist Richmond Brothers Ericsson No.2, Auckland 2.30pm Kick Off

North Harbour Tigers vs Waicoa Bay Stallions North Harbour Stadium, Auckland 3.00pm Kick Off Curtain Raiser - England U18 Academy vs Auckland U18 Rep Team 1.15pm Kick Off