Falcons’ unbeaten run continues

Their eighth consecutive victory has set the Marlborough Boys’ College First XV up for a mouthwatering top-of-the-table clash with Christchurch Boys’ High School later this month.

The Falcons travelled south on Saturday, taking on the eight-placed Selwyn Combined side, and came away with a comprehensive 38-17 win in the Miles Toyota premiership.

The visitors set up their victory with a dominant first half, after which they led 26-3, their forwards again paving the way to victory. Leading the charge was imposing prop forward Mason Nicklin with a brace of tries, while halfback AJ Gane, midfielders Kyan Marcroft and Anru Erasmus, plus loosie Tom Robinson scored the others. Josh Flynn booted four conversions.

Robinson was a standout among the forwards during his 20^th appearance for the Falcons, while Kaue da Silva made good impact from the bench.

Coach Tonga Taumoefolau was pleased with the performance. “We are where we wanted to be, but have still got some work to do,” he said.

“Selwyn were a typical country team, they just wouldn’t go away. We were fairly clinical in the first half and, although we didn’t have the same fluidity in the second half, we were able to blood some new players, including four year-11s.”

He is a looking forward to the lengthy break before the next match, saying both the players and management need some down time after three “taxing” away trips in succession.

With just one more round robin match to play, MBC sit second on the points table, just a point behind the similarly-unbeaten Christchurch BHS outfit, who they will meet on the MBC front field on July 19, after a two week break for school holidays.

Following that match, a newly-instituted six-team play-off series will take place, the top qualifiers, already assured of being MBC and CBHS, both having a first round bye, the third qualifier playing the sixth and the fourth taking on the fifth qualifier.

The winners of those matches will play the top two in the following week’s semifinals.

If MBC and CBHS both win their semis, the final will be played at the home ground of the top qualifier, making the July 19 clash vitally important.

Points: CBHS 40, MBC 39, St Thomas 28, Nelson 24*, STAC 20, Shirley 18, Christ’s 15*, St Bede’s 13, Selwyn 13, Rangiora 2. *played one game less.