Tohis triumph in senior A rugby decider

Waitohi are the 2025 Marlborough senior A rugby champions after a 41-19 victory over Central in the championship decider at Endeavour Park, Picton today.

The first half was a thrilling war of attrition with big runs, hard tackles and sparkling footy played in front of a large crowd.

The visitors opened the scoring after just eight minutes when midfielder Logan Robinson touched down after a charge down, however the home side replied midway through the half when vastly experienced lock Campbell Hart capitalized on a wealth of possession to finish a team try.

The Blues were the next to score, through a pushover try to Francis Roebeck, before Waitohi found some momentum to finish the half, some hard running eventually opening space for centre Mason Larrington to pick and go in for a late try under the posts, the conversion from Dylan McManaway giving the home side a 14-12 advantage.

They soon increased that lead after oranges, left winger Couper Robinson crossing, then Hart bagging his second with a rampaging run to push the home side out to a 28-12 lead.

Central continued to attack, halfback Caleb Young making a clean break through a lineout. The resulting kick chase went close but the Tohis’ back three defused the situation.

However, it was the visitors who struck next, their scrum dominance resulting in a penalty try, which closed the gap to 28-19.

The Tohis then slowed the game down, landing two successive penalties off the boot of McManaway before Hart clinched the match, scoring his third try after sprinting 60m, sparking massive celebrations among the loyal and vocal yellow and black brigade.

Waitohi player Jimmy Giles described it as “a game of two halves really”.

“They came out and put us under pressure and we made uncharacteristic mistakes.

“We had a good talk at halftime, looked in the mirror and said we are better than that and I think our effort in the second half showed that.”

Their victory was “mission accomplished” for the Tohis, said Jimmy.

“We had a goal at the start of the season … we have been on the losing side for the last two so one of our big goals was to get into [the final] and give ourselves the opportunity to take the title.

“We range from 17-year-olds to 40-year-olds but everyone buys into what we are trying to do. The whole season has been great, with a better standard of football all round.”

Central skipper Liam Young said he was proud of the way his side had pushed the previously unbeaten home side all the way.

“I thought we were going to come down here and give them a push and I thing we did that pretty well in the first half … they showed their class in the second half though so full credit to them … well done, deserved victors.”

Scores: Waitohi 41 (Campbell Hart 3, Mason Larrington, Couper Robinson tries, Dylan McManaway 5 con, 2 pen) Central 19 (Francis Roebeck, Logan Robinson, penalty try, Liam Young con). HT: 14-12 Waitohi.