NZ Bartercard Cup - Round 8 review
and results

New Zealand's Bartercard Cup competition was underway once more after 2 weeks break for all the teams. Niggling injuries were rested and most sides came out firing in Round 8. Once again 1 or 2 upsets have kept the competition tight as teams look to the Top 5 positions.

Saturday 19 June 2004

On Saturday North Harbour Tigers moved into play-off contention with an exciting 34-22 win over the Canterbury Bulls at North Harbour stadium. They now sit 4th equal on the table just 4 points adrift from the leaders Marist Richmond Brothers.

After tit for tat play in the first half by the two sides the Bulls finished the half strongly, but the Tigers held on to the lead at the break by 18-16.

The Tigers stunned the Bulls by scoring after only three minutes after the restart, with Jeremy Goff slicing through after a great pass from captain Quincy Ikifana.

An opportunist 50-yard runaway from Bulls interchange backrower Chris Newton tied the scores at 22-22, before the Tigers scored two more tries in the final 20 minutes to win comfortably in the end. Tigers centre Karl Johnson once again showed how dangerous he is netting 2 superb tries in the match.

The Bulls sit third on the competition laddrer with 3 teams nipping at their heels including the Tigers.

The Bulls will host Counties Manakau Jetz next Saturday in Christchurch while the North Harbour Tigers will be at home once again facing Wellington on Sunday afternoon.

North Harbour Tigers vs Canterbury Bulls North Harbour Stadium, Auckland

North Harbour Tigers 34 J. Trott, D. Glasgon, J. Golf (2), K. Johnson (2) : Tries J. Trott (5) : Goals

Canterbury Bulls 22 A. Harris, V. Whare, C. Fraser, C. Newton : Tries M. Clarkson (3) : Goals

Halftime Score : 18 - 16 To North Harbour Tigers

The Unitec ground is proving to be a happy hunting ground for Mt Albert Lions as they beat the Eastern Tornadoes in fine style on Saturday afternoon in front of a good crowd. The win sees them move in to 2nd position in the competition.

The Tornadoes kept themselves in the match right up to the break only down by 18-6, however the Lions pack was just too strong as they ran with the match in the second half. Mt Albert speedster Misili Manu scoring four of their 9 tries and captain Steve Buckingham guiding his team well around the park. The Tornadoes will need to regroup before they head down to Hamilton next weekend to face the Wai-Coa-Bay Stallions while the Lions head up to Whangaparoa to take on the Hibiscus Coast Raiders at home on Saturday afternoon..

Mt Albert Lions vs Eastern Tornadoes Unitec Mt Albert, Auckland

Mt Albert Lions 52 R. Godfrey, R. Baxter (2), A. Bauer (2), M. Manu (4) : Tries S. Buckingham (8) : Goals

Eastern Tornadoes 16 I. Paulo, T. Hewitt, M. Latu : Tries H. Rangi (2) : Goals

Halftime Score : 18 - 6 To Mt Albert Lions

Marist Richmond Brothers showed once again why they are the competition leaders when they defeated the bottom placed Hibiscus Coast Raiders by 40-12.

To their credit the Raiders were very much in the game at the break only down by 16-12. The Marist side stepped up a gear in the second half scoring 24 answered points to cement their spot at the top of the table.

The Raiders now have the daunting task on facing the Mt Albert Lions in the next round while Marist Richmond Brothers have another home game hosting the Central Falcons on Saturday afternoon.

Marist Richmond Brothers vs Hibiscus Coast Raiders Murray Halberg Park, Auckland

Marist Richmond Brothers 40 A. Murray, B. Perenara, R. Seuala, K. Guttenbeil (2), R. Henry (2) : Tries G. Rota (6) : Goals

Hibiscus Coast Raiders 12 D. Floyd, C. Te Kiri : Tries D. Floyd (2) : Goals

Halftime Score : 16 - 12 To Marist Richmond

In a somewhat messy game the Central Falcons and Glenora Bears fought out to a 24 all draw at Palmerston North on Saturday. For the Bears this is their 3rd draw in the competition this year with once again being down by a large margin at the break to make a spirited comeback.

The Falcons looked to have the game in the bag, up by 24-4 at halftime but complacency set in as the Bears scored 20 points to end the game in the draw. The goal kicking fom both sides let them down.

In Round 9 the Falcons head north to Auckland to take on the competition leaders Marist Richmond Brothers while the Bears have a home game against the improving Otahuhu Ellerslie side.

Central Falcons vs Glenora Bears Fitzherbert Park, Palmerston North

Central Falcons 24 M. Whakatihi, T. Greig, W. Live (3) : Tries L. Erihe (2) : Goals

Glenora Bears 24 K. Alefosio, H. Godinet, B. Valeni, C. Waide (2) : Tries S. Ieremia (2) : Goals

Halftime Score : 24 - 4 To Central Falcons

With a total of eleven tries scored in the match between Otahuhu Ellerslie and the visiting Wellington side, it was a great spectacle for the small crowd.

Otahuhu coach James Leuluai certainly has his side well disciplined as they defeated the Wellington side by 34-22 at the Ericsson No.2 ground on Saturday afternoon. Once again the goal kicking needs to be addressed but the win sees them move into 3rd equal spot in the competition, on the same points as the Canterbury Bulls.

The Wellington side lacked the consistency needed to stay in touch with the home side and although scoring 3 tries in the second half, it was never going to be enough to threaten the Otahuhu Ellerslie side. The now slip down to 8th spot on the ladder still only 2 points outside the Top 5.

Wellington go up against the in form North Harbour Tigers on Sunday afternoon next weekend while Otahuhu Ellerslie travel out to Waitakere Stadium to take on the Glenora Bears, also on Sunday afternoon.

Otahuhu Ellerslie vs Wellington Ericsson No.2, Auckland

Otahuhu Ellerslie 34 D. Fisi'iahi, P. Fisi'iahi, J. Tavaga, G. Ruka, J. Yandall, F. Nuuausala (2) : Tries C. Wetini (3) : Goals

Wellington 22 J. Te Reo, F. Laumua, J. Davis, T. Brown : Tries J. MacDonald (3) : Goals

Halftime Score : 20 - 6 To Otahuhu Ellerslie

Sunday 20 June 2004 The two newcomers to the 2004 Bartercard Cup competition turned on 80 minutes of entertainment and tries as Counties-Manukau Jetz beat Wai-Coa-Bay Stallions 38-34 at Ericsson Stadium on Sunday just before the NRL clash between the Warriors and the Cowboys. The McEntee Challenge Cup was up for grabs with this the first game between the two sides.

The defence from both teams was tough to start with but holes later opened and Wai-Coa-Bay fought back well from a 10-26 halftime deficit to come close to victory. Stand out performance by both five-eights helped guide the ball around the field for the speedsters of both sides to cause damage.

Both sides now are in the middle of the standings with tough matches ahead in Round 9. The Jetz head down to Christchurch to take on the Bulls on Sunday afternoon while the Wai-Coa-Bay Stallions host the Tornadoes in Hamilton on Saturday.

Counties Manukau Jetz vs Waicoa Bay Stallions Ericsson Stadium, Auckland (Curtain Raiser To Warriors vs Cowboys)

Counties Manukau Jetz 38 L. Finnerty, J Ioapo, M. Suniula, A. Tusani, W. Barnett, J. Karatiana, P. Tafea (2) : Tries L. Finnerty (3) : Goals

Waicoa Bay Stallions 34 R. Peri, M. Walker, N. Kaa (2), V. Moana-Mason (2) : Tries T. Matthews (5) : Goals

Halftime Score : 26 - 10 To Counties Manukau Jetz

Round 8 results:

Saturday 19 June 2004

North Harbour Tigers 34 - Canterbury Bulls 22

Mt Albert Lions 52 - Eastern Tornadoes 16

Marist Richmond Brothers 40 - Hibiscus Coast Raiders 12

Central Falcons 24 - Glenora Bears 24

Otahuhu Ellerslie 34 - Wellington 22 Sunday 20 June 2004

Counties Manukau Jetz 38 - Waicoa Bay Stallions 34

BARTERCARD CUP FIXTURES - ROUND 9:

Saturday 26 June 2004

Hibiscus Coast Raiders vs Mt Albert Lions Stanmore Bay Reserve, Whangaparaoa 2.30pm Kick Off

Marist Richmond Brothers vs Central Falcons Grey Lynn Park, Auckland 2.30pm Kick Off

Waicoa Bay Stallions vs Eastern Tornadoes Resthills Park, Hamilton 3.00pm Kick Off

Sunday 27 June 2004

Canterbury Bulls vs Counties Manukau Jetz Rugby League Park, Christchurch 2.30pm Kick Off

Glenora Bears vs Otahuhu Ellerslie Waitakere Stadium, Auckland 2.30pm Kick Off

North Harbour Tigers vs Wellington North Harbour Stadium, Auckland 2.30pm Kick Off