Tussocks tip over Renwick

Awatere’s Tussock Jumpers produced a determined second half effort to edge past home side Renwick 29-22 in their senior A rugby clash at the Renwick Domain today.

Both sides scored twice in the first spell, which was dominated territorially by the visitors, who led 12-10 at the break.

Renwick scored soon after oranges but were only able to add one more try after that, while their opponents dug deeper, despite playing into a steady breeze.

The Tussocks scored two more tries, influential first five Angus Phillips converting both and adding a penalty goal to see the visitors home in this eagerly-awaited battle of the “country cousins”.

Things were not as tight in the other two matches. At Endeavour Park in Picton, Waitohi romped past Harlequins 91-12 while Moutere downed Pelorus 43-17 at the Havelock Domain.

Meanwhile, Marist made it back-to-back Tasman Trophy men’s titles with a 31-22 win over Nelson at Trafalgar Park this afternoon.

At halftime, playing into the wind and rain, Marist led 15-12, both sides having scored two tries. A try to hard-charging No 8 Joseph Domoni and conversion by Luke Kilworth seven minutes after the break stretched Marist’s lead to 22-12. A penalty soon after from Kilworth added three to the Marist total and it was an uphill battle from then on for the team in blue.

Nelson managed to close to 25-17 after 55 minutes through some fine multi-phase play but two more Kilworth penalties gave the defending champs some breathing space.

Nelson had the final say, a try to replacement prop Isikeli Vite, closing the gap to nine points, but they ran out of time and the Green and Blacks had done it again.

The Tasman Trophy women’s semifinals were both played over the hill and featured decisive scorelines.

In Motueka, front-runners Kahurangi beat Marist 30-0 while, at Jubilee Park, the home side Waimea Old Boys downed Moutere, the only Marlborough side in the competition, 60-0.