Stallions end season on high

MEDIA RELEASE

September 27, 2014

NZRL Media Release - Stallions end season on high

Wai-Coa-Bay Stallions begin their off-season two weeks early and have something to celebrate, with wing Mounga Molisi's late try sealing a hard-fought 24-18 result over Central Vipers at Rotorua's Puketawhero Park.

The loss - along with Akarana's subsequent win in Whangarei - dashed the Vipers' faint hopes of reaching the Pirtek NZRL National Premiership final, but they only had themselves to blame.

With the scores tied at 18-18 late in the contest, the visitors had a couple of chances to edge ahead, turning down two kickable penalties and squandering their attempts to get across the line.

When their opportunity arose, Wai-Coa-Bay capitalised a little better. Halfback Hayden Karena missed a penalty attempt that would have put them ahead, but from the restart, they spread the ball wide, where Molisi spun out of two tackles to score his second try near the corner.

Karena's conversion from out wide put the icing on the cake.

The Stallions grabbed the early initiative, running in three converted tries - including a spectacular length-of-the field effort from Molisi - before their opponents could respond.

But two converted tries and Aaron Whitikia's 45-metre penalty right on halftime seemed to have swung momentum back the Vipers' way. When centre Che Barlow dotted down to draw even midway through the second half, the game was set for its tense finish.

Wai-Coa-Bay have the final-round bye in a fortnight, so they finish the season with a 3-3 record, defeating Wellington Orcas, Northland Swords and now the Vipers along the way.

Central (2-3) face defending champions Akarana in their final outing.

Meanwhile, the Falcons went a long way towards grabbing a spot in the final, with an 80-10 romp over the hapless Swords further north.

Ahead by only 12 points at halftime, the titleholders piled on the points at better than even time over the final 40 minutes to greatly improve their points-difference situation in the event of a three-way countback.

The Falcons ran in 14 tries, with Taylor Daniels, playing in the centres, grabbing three and fullback Simon Ieremia slotting nine goals.

Akarana, Counties Manukau and Canterbury are all 4-1 with one round left, but the Bulls now have a huge task to head off their rivals. They also have the Swords left on their schedule, but are 92 points behind the Falcons in the race for second placing.

PIRTEK NZRL NATIONAL PREMIERSHIP

Sunday, September 28

Puketawhero Park, Rotorua

Wai-Coa-Bay Stallions 24 (Mounga Molisi 2, Raureti Grace & Marin Haggie tries; Hayden Karena 4 goals) Central Vipers 18 (Aaron Whitikia, Jo Ratu & Che Barlow tries; Whitkia 3 goals); HT: 18-14

Stallions: 1-Caleb Heke, 2-Isaac Robinson, 3-John Koko, 4-Isaiah Cooper-Tetevano, 5-Mounga Molisi, 6-Johnson Peri, 7-Hayden Karena, 10-Mosese Mafi, 9-Raureti Grace, 8-Lionel Skipworth, 11-Marrin Haggie, 12- Hone Love-Henry, 13- Terry Kopua, 14-Daley Rata-Makene, 15-Riki Collier, 17-Shaquille Jackman, 16-Tupara Tupara

Vipers: 1-Aaron Whitikia, 2-Jo Ratu, 3-Josh Kerr, 4-Che Barlow, 5-Tyson Young, 7-Cruze Rauner, 6-Dylan Hall, 8-Sione Sifa, 9-Travell Ngatoko, 10-Kele Kose, 11-Jarrod Morfett, 12-Wiremu McSeveny, 13-Ale Feaunati, 14-Colin Hokianga, 15-Richard Gillies, 16-Haze Reweti, 17-Gordon Karaitiana

Referee - Jamal Thompson Touch - Puia Williams & Henare Chadwick

Toll Stadium, Whangarei

Akarana Falcons 80 (Taylor Daniels 3, Sam Cook 2, T Vea 2, Saula Solomona, Semisi Fotu , Jeremiah Fa'aumuumu, Eddie Purcell, R Norton, Levi Norton, Lila Vaivai tries; Simon Ieremia 9 & Cody Walker 3 goals) Northern Swords 10 (Joel Freeman & K Harding tries; Freeman goal): HT: 22-10

Swords: 18-Hori Tuhoro, 2-Rikki Tarau, 3-Israel Tahere, 4-Ross McFarlane, 5-Tumoana Halkyard, 6-Moses Cooper, 7-Dean Schreurs, 17-Andre Lennox, 9-Joel Freeman, 10-Michael Salase, 11-Patrick Tane, 16-Jordan Hool, 13-Kelsin Harding, 14-Z Rota, 15-Manu Tuhoro, 8-C Apoua, 19-Alex Salase

Falcons: 1-Simon Ieremia, 2-Saula Solomona, 19-Semisi Fotu, 3-Taylor Daniels, 5-Jeremiah Faaumuumu, 6-Sam Cook, 7-Cody Walker, 8-Malakai Houma, 9-Marcus Fraser, 10-Eddie Purcell, 11-T Vea, 12-Karl Simeti, 12-Tulson Caird, 14-R Norton, 15-Levi Norton, 16-Lila Vaivai, 17-Trent Shaumkel

Referee - Lance Bullen Touch - Tane Kaiwai & Grant Wharehuka

NZ Rugby League would like to acknowledge and thank naming-rights sponsor of the NZRL National Premiership - Pirtek fluid transfer solutions - who is also major sponsor of the NZ Kiwis. In addition, Pirtek supports league through its NRL association with the Brisbane Broncos and Parramatta's Pirtek Stadium.

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