NZ Bartercard Cup - Round 7 review
and results

Round 7 of New Zealand's Bartercard Cup competition sees us now halfway through the competition with Marist Richmond Brothers one point ahead of Mt Albert Lions and last year's champions the Canterbury Bulls.

After causing a few of the top teams a headache in the last few rounds, the Central Falcons have finally managed their first win of the year and move off the bottom of the ladder.

With no games next weekend, it'll be a good time for all teams to regroup for the tough games ahead in the 2nd half of the Bartercard Cup competition.

BARTERCARD CUP - ROUND 7 RESULTS:

Friday 4 June 2004

On Friday night competition leaders Marist Richmond Brothers, headed out to Papakura to take on Counties Manakau Jetz. The game was close from start to finish with the Jetz coming back into form at the right time. They pushed the Marist side right to the final whistle in what was a fine display of league by both the sides.

Counties Manukau Jetz vs Marist Richmond Brothers Massey Park Papakura, Auckland

Marist Richmond Brothers 20 R. Henry, M. Taulapapa (3) : Tries G. Rota (2) : Goals defeated Counties Manukau Jetz 18 J. Karatiana, P. Tafea, A. Herangi : Tries L. Finnerty (3) : Goals

Halftime Score : 8 - 6 To Marist Richmond Brothers

Saturday 5 June 2004

The Hibiscus Coast Raiders now find themselves languishing at the bottom of the competition table after their loss this week to the Eastern Tornadoes at Whangaparoa on Saturday afternoon.

The Tornadoes looked impressive right from the start of the match and with a healthy 16-0 lead at the break looked ready to take the match quite comfortably. After sunshine throughout the first half, the rain bucketed down at the break forcing a lot of the small crowd out of the ground. With 50 minutes of the game gone and a 22-0 deficit, the Raiders stepped up a notch and dominated the last half hour of the match, however not quite enough to take the game off the Tornadoes.

The Raiders have now lost five games in a row and find themselves at the bottom of the competition table. The Eastern Tornadoes have moved into 8th spot only four points away from the leaders.

Hibiscus Coast Raiders vs Eastern Tornadoes Stanmore Bay Reserve, Whangaparaoa

Eastern Tornadoes 22 S. Moala, N. Pulu, N. Ngametua (2) : Tries H.Rangi (3) : Goals defeated Hibiscus Coast Raiders 16 David Floyd, C. Te Kiri (2) : Tries Daniel Floyd (2) : Goals

Halftime Score : 16 - 0 To Eastern Tornadoes

Canterburys Bulls have extended their unbeaten home record to 15 matches and two years when they demolished Auckland's Glenora Bears 58-10 on Saturday night

The Bulls managed to score 11 tries in cold and wet conditions at Rugby League Park. Second-rower Chris Newton led the way with a try-scoring treble after coming off the bench midway through the first half. Newton has touched down nine times in his last four appearances.

Unfortunately for the Glenora Bears, the Bulls were in the mood to score. For the first twenty minutes they were in the game, only 6-4 down but that was as close as they could get to a side on fire, and the Bears spent the rest of the game defending their line.

The Bulls retain second position on the premiership table, one point behind Marist Richmond Brothers whereas the Bears are 10th now on the table, 3 points down from the next spot on the ladder.

Canterbury Bulls vs Glenora Bears Rugby League Park, Christchurch

Canterbury Bulls 58 C. Fraser, R. Martin, A. Timo, S. Wallace, A. Auimatagi (2), R. Hanson (2), C. Newton (3) : Tries M. Clarkson (7) : Goals defeated Glenora Bears 10 C. Waide, I. Retzlaff : Tries H. Guttenbeil : Goal

Halftime Score : 20 - 4 To Canterbury Bulls

Sunday 6 June 2004

While the Auckland weather tried it hardest to make playing conditions horrid, the playing surface at Ericsson Stadium held up very well for the match between the Mt Albert Lions and the North Harbour Tigers. Set to be a close encounter, supporters from both sides were not disappointed as the game went down to the wire. The sight of Tony Tuimavave leading by example for the younger Lions players was great to see. As was the commitment by the Tigers when the game looked to be slipping away from them. Stand out performances by Tigers centre Karl Johnson and big forward Ake Aukafolau were not quite enough to seal the win for the Tigers as the Lions scrambling defence held on just enough for the victory.

The Lions now lie second equal in the competition, just one point away from the top, while the Tigers are 6th.

Mt Albert Lions vs North Harbour Tigers Ericsson Stadium, Auckland (Curtain Raiser To Warriors vs Raiders)

Mt Albert Lions 22 A. Fungapo, C. Tuimavave, R. Wigg (2) : Tries S. Buckingham (3) : Goals defeated North Harbour Tigers 18 K. Johnson, T. Samoa, L. Copestake (2) : Tries J. Trott (1) : Goals

Halftime Score : 8 - 6 To North Harbour Tigers

The Wai-Coa-Bay Stallions fell to their second successive loss, 34-18 to Otahuhu Ellerslie in round seven of the Bartercard Cup, dropping to fifth in the standings just two weeks after being competition leaders. They gave up penalties for offside on defence and play-the-ball offences late in the tackle count, which resulted in consecutive sets and long periods on defence.

Otahuhu Ellerslie, egged on by a very vocal home crowd were very professional from the start of the game and when the Stallions charged back late in the game, their defence held true allowing them to come out comfortable winners in the end.

Both Otahuhu Ellerslie and the Wai-Coa-Bay Stallions are on 8 points on the competition table, 3 points adrift of the leaders Marist Richmond Brothers.

Otahuhu Ellerslie vs Waicoa Bay Stallions Henham Park, Auckland

Otahuhu Ellerslie 34 C. Vuna, P. Fisiiahi, M. Langdon, R. Johnson, F. Nuuausala (2) : Tries C. Wetini (5) : Goals defeated Waicoa Bay Stallions 18 V. Moana-Mason, D. Kete (2) : Tries T. Matthews (3) : Goals

Halftime Score : 20 - 6 To Otahuhu Ellerslie

After an impressive win over the Wai-Coa-Bay Stallions in Round 6, the Wellington side was expected to have no trouble keeping the Central Falcons winless once more in the Bartercard competition. They started off strong for the first twenty minutes but ill discipline by Wellington saw the patient Falcons side creep back into the game to take a narrow lead at the break.

The second half of the match was a one-sided affair with the Central Falcons finding their straps and running away with the win to record their first 2 pointer in the 2004 competition.

The Falcons now happily leave bottom place in the competition to the Hibiscus Coast Raiders while Wellington slip down the ladder to 7th place.

Wellington vs Central Falcons Hutt Recreation Ground, Wellington

Central Falcons 36 M. Whakatihi, P. Hales, D. Fa'apito, R. Hurunui, S. Forbes (3) : Tries L. Erihe (4) : Goals

Wellington 14 S. Mannering, J. Carnegie, D. Laula : Tries J. Te Reo (1) : Goals

Halftime Score : 16 - 10 To Central Falcons

Round 7 results:

Friday 4 June 2004

Marist Richmond Brothers 20 - Counties Manukau Jetz 18

Saturday 5 June 2004

Eastern Tornadoes 22 - Hibiscus Coast Raiders 16

Canterbury Bulls 58 - Glenora Bears 10

Sunday 6 June 2004

Mt Albert Lions 22 - North Harbour Tigers 18

Otahuhu Ellerslie 34 - Waicoa Bay Stallions 18

Central Falcons 36 - Wellington 14

There Will Be No Bartercard Cup Fixtures For The Weekend Of The 11 - 13 June 2004 (Lay Week) Competition Will Kick Off Again On The Weekend Of The 18 - 20 June 2004