Round 4 - Auckland Vans Balmain-Ryde Tigers
The Auckland Vulcans registered their first win on Saturday when they beat the previously unbeaten Balmain-Ryde Tigers 38-14 at Mt Smart # 2\. From the beginning the Vulcans looked to be more organized with Ian Henderson controlling the ruck. And with good yardage being made by Upu Poching and Nathaniel Neale the Vulcans led 18-4 at half time; with the final result 38-14.
The opening 10 minutes was dominated by the Vulcans, and although the Tigers counter attacked down the left hand side on several occasions they were unable to score. In the 10th minute, from a play the ball on the Tigers’ 13m mark, Sione Tongia bulldozed his way over from dummy half. Patrick Ah Van converted and the Vulcans lead 6-0.
Six minutes later the Tigers hit back after the Vulcans failed to capitalize on a loose ball on their own 20m. Prop Al Schirnack surged over to score next to the posts, but Sean Meaney’s kick was astray and the score remained 6-4.
The Tigers continued to apply pressure, but the Vulcans defence was sound, and after 2 penalties inside the Tigers 30m mark, Tongia took an inside pass to score his second try. Ah Van‘s conversion was successful, and the Vulcans led 12-4 with less than 15 minutes before the break.
Again the Tigers retaliated, but they lost the ball in goal. The Vulcans surged up field from the 20m restart with Fetongi Tuinauvai and interchange forward, Suaia Matagi, making good headway. The Tigers markers were offside on the 5th tackle, and Henderson’s quick thinking earned the Vulcans a penalty. This allowed the Vulcans to take the ball to the tigers line and Sione Lousi dotted down mid way between the corner post and goalposts. Ah Van added the extra 2 points and despite a couple of forays into their 20m in the next 5 minutes, the Vulcans held out the Tigers to lead 18-4 at half time.
The second half began with the Tigers going close from the restart, but the speculator from Sioeli Makai was too big, going dead in goal. From the next set the Vulcans re-gathered a bomb and a clever pass from Henderson saw Tongia score his 3rd try of the game. Ah Van’s conversion from the side line was not successful, but the Vulcans had extended their lead to 22-4.
With only 5 minutes gone in the second spell the Vulcans advanced up field and somehow, on the 5th tackle, Suaia grubbered toward the goal post picked the ball up after it rebounded from the post and dived over in Meaney’s tackle to score. Ah Van converted from in front and the Vulcans lead was extended to 28-4.
Five minutes later, after Suaia was held up inches short, the Tigers were penalized for off side. On the first hit up Suaia made no mistake to score his second, using his size and speed to bend the Tigers’ defenders. Ah Van was successful again as he extended the Vulcans lead to 34-4.
The Tigers finally had some good fortune when a lob into the in goal by Wes Middleton bounced on top of one the the goal post pads and Meaney’s quick reactions rewarded him with a try that he converted. There was still 25 minutes left in the game and the Vulcans led 34-10.
The good fortune didn’t last long for the Tigers as they knocked the ball on from the kick off. In the next set Neale was held up short, but the Tigers weathered the storm and continued to do so for the next 10 minutes. That was when the Vulcans had a bit of luck. As they made another foray on the short side, a pass that went to ground, bounced kindly and Tuinauvai was on hand to pick it up and dart over to score in the corner. Ah Van couldn’t convert, but the Vulcans led 38-10 with less than 15 minutes remaining.
The Tigers scored their 3rd and final try when winger Sam Latu showed speed and strength to go over in the corner. Meaney’s conversion missed and with 10 minutes to go the Vulcans lead was 38-14.
Although the Vulcans tried, they couldn’t cross the Tigers line again. A series of penalties in the dying minutes gave the Tigers several opportunities, but the Vulcans rallied to hold on for a well deserved win.
Auckland Vulcans 38 (Tongia 3, Suaia 2, Tuinauvai, Lousi tries; Ah Van 5 goals)
Balmain-Ryde Tigers 14 (Meaney, Latu, Schirnack tries; Meaney 1 goal)
Halftime: 18-4 Vulcans