NZ Bartercard Cup - Round 13
review

Round 13 of New Zealand's Bartercard Cup competition handed out a few surprises with some of the top five teams getting a bit of a nudge from lower placed clubs. High scores seemed to be the nature of the beast as tries came thick and fast all weekend.

BARTERCARD CUP RESULTS - ROUND 13

Saturday 31 July 2004

The Mt Albert Lions once again cemented their 2nd place on the competition ladder as they beat the visiting Counties Manakau Jets in great conditions at Fowlds Park by 40-20. Steve Buckingham for the Lions showing his worth with the boot once more.

Mt Albert Lions vs Counties Manukau Jetz Fowlds Park, Auckland

Mt Albert Lions 40 A. Bauer, M. Manu, K. Wright, G. Maleatoa-Brown, F. Talaepa, R. Baxter (2) : Tries S. Buckingham (6) : Goals

Counties Manukau Jetz 20 G. Eliki, S. Fa'alogo, J. Karaitiana (2) : Tries A. Herangi (2) : Goals

Halftime Score : 18 - 4 To Mt Albert Lions

Hibiscus Coast Raiders have finally finished off a game with 2 competition points when they defeated the Central Falcons at Whangaparoa by 38-26.

The Falcons scored very early in the match and looked set to come away with the win. However we finally got to see some of that Raiders magic that's been missing in 2004 at Stanmore Park as the Raiders fought their way to a 38-26 victory over the visitors.

Hibiscus Coast Raiders vs Central Falcons Stanmore Bay, Whangaparaoa

Hibiscus Coast Raiders 38 O. Manuel, T. Nikora, P. Prime (2), J. Vaifale (3) : Tries M. Ashe (5) : Goals

Central Falcons 26 N.Hohaia, T. Erihe, L. Erihe, K. Savage (3) : Tries N. Hohaia (1) : Goals

Halftime Score : 22 - 10 To Hibiscus Coast Raiders

Victory for Wellington over the Glenora Bears left them still in sixth place, one point away from the top five they need to be in the playoffs with three regular season matches remaining. After initially being 14-0 down early in the game, the Bears fought back well to have the scores locked up at 20 all after 52 minutes of the match.

Wellington then dug in their heels and literally ran away with the match.

Next Saturday's game against the 2003 champions, Canterbury at Wise Park is another must win. Wellington will be without five youngsters Simon Mannering, Viliami Manu, Josh Davis, John Te Reo, and Isaac Luke for the next two weekends.

They will be playing for the Junior Kiwis in Auckland against the England U18 academy on Sunday afternoon at North Harbour Stadium.

Wellington vs Glenora Bears, Wise Park, Wellington.

Wellington 40 J. MacDonald, S. Mannering, W. Manu, M. Nathan (2) , T. Lavulavu, I Luke ,J. Carnegie, Tries J. MacDonald (4) Conversions.

Glenora Bears 20 C. Waide, K. Aufosio, H. Godinet, D. Shepard tries K. Aufosio (2) Conversions

Halftime 20 - 10 to Wellington

A 17 match unbeaten home record for the Canterbury Bulls was ended by Otahuhu Ellerslie on Saturday night in Christchurch when the visitors defeated last year's Bartercard Cup winners by 28-22. It was the fifth placed Bulls' third consecutive loss.

The fumbles which turned over possession and the missed tackles enabled Otahuhu Ellerslie to skip out to a 16-0 lead could not be nullified by a late scoring surge by the Bulls from 12-28 down with 9 minutes remaining. Otahuhu Ellerslie looked impressive helped in part by the experience of Thomas Leuluai.

Otahuhu Ellerslie coach James Leuluai expects his side to be strengthened for the play-offs by the return of Warriors centre Manu Vatuvei and New Zealand A forwards Sinave Faitala and Frank-Paul Nuuausala. Vatuvei and Nuuausala are in camp with the Junior Kiwis.

Canterbury Bulls vs Otahuhu-Ellerslie, Rugby League Park , Christchurch.

Canterbury Bulls 22 P. McDonald, A. Harris, C. Lawrie (2) tries M. Clarkson, J. O'Brien (2) Conversions

Otahuhu - Ellerslie 28 P. Aitken (2) , D. Fiisiahi, P. Fiisiahi, F. Tupou, Tries T. Leuluai (2), R. Johnson, T. Frost conversions

Halftime Score 16 - 6 to Otahuhu - Ellerslie

Sunday 1st August 2004

Marist Richmond Brothers have shown their strength and commitment right across the park when they trampled the Eastern Tornadoes by 54-10 on Sunday afternoon. The Brothers now have a three point buffer at the top of the table with only 3 rounds remaining in the competition before the play-offs.

The Tornadoes still have a slim chance of making the Top 5, being only 3 points behind the fifth place team, if they come home strong in the remaining rounds.

Eastern Manukau Tornadoes vs Marist Richmond Brothers, Ericcson Two , Auckland

Eastern Manukau Tornadoes 10 N. Ngametua, I. Paulo Tries, H.Rangi Conversion

Marist Richmond Brothers 54 J. Tiavale, G. Rota, M. France, K. Guttenbeil, E. Leavai, G. Rota, R. Henry (2) , M. Taulapapa (2) Tries G. Rota , (7) Conversions.

Halftime Score : 22-nil to Marist Richmond Brothers

Wai-Coa-Bay Stallions, the leaders early in the competition finally ended their 7 loss losing streak when they travelled up to Albany and defeated the North Harbour Tigers on their home turf by 46-34. The Tigers making current position as fourth on the table just that little bit unstable after the loss.

After a halftime lead of just 2 points, and with the game locked up at 28 all the Stallions started a run of 16 unanswered points midway through the half that sealed the win.

North Harbour vs Waicoa Bay Stallions, North Harbour Stadium, Auckland.

North Harbour 34 G. MacPherson, J. Golf, J. Trott, D. Vasau (3) J. Trott (5) Conversions

Waicoa Bay Stallions 46 V. Moana-Mason (2), T. Mathews, B. Whitiora (2) , N. Kaa, C. Norton, T. Soti Tries T. Mathews (7) Conversions

Halftime 18 - 16 to Waicoa Bay Stallions

The visiting English lads gave the home town Auckland U18's a good old fashioned lesson in playing for the full eighty minutes when the two sides met on Sunday afternoon at North Harbour Stadium.

A good workout for the visitors as they are set to take on the Junior Kiwis next Sunday afternoon at Albany.

INTERNATIONAL

Auckland U/18s vs England Academy 18s, North Harbour Stadium, Auckland.

Auckland 20 C. Vuna, W. Heta, D. Shepherd, P. Ormsby tries W. Heta (2) Conversions

England Academy 38 S. Grix, D. Doherty (2), A. Gibson (2), C. Ashton, D. Allen tries S. Murrell (2), C. Huby (2), A. Gibson Conversions.

BARTERCARD CUP FIXTURES - ROUND 14

Saturday 7 August 2004

Wellington vs Canterbury Bulls Wise Park, Wellington 2.30pm Kick Off

Central Falcons vs Eastern Tornadoes Fitzherbert Park, Palmerston North 2.30pm Kick Off

Marist Richmond Brothers vs North Harbour Tigers Grey Lynn Park, Auckland 2.30pm Kick Off

Otahuhu Ellerslie vs Mt Albert Lions Ericsson Stadium, Auckland (Curtain Raiser To Warriors vs Broncos) 5.05pm Kick Off

Sunday 8 August 2004

Glenora Bears vs Waicoa Bay Stallions North Harbour Stadium, Auckland 2.00pm Kick Off

Hibiscus Coast Raiders vs Counties Manukau Jetz Stanmore Bay Reserve, Whangaparaoa 2.30pm Kick Off

International Test Match - Junior Kiwi's vs England U18 Academy North Harbour Stadium, Auckland 4.00pm Kick Off