106-year-old Green Machine finally fires on all cylinders

by Patrick Dawkins

It has taken 106 years of toil, but Renwick finally have tasted the glory of a Marlborough division one rugby title after holding off a fast-finishing Central 25-21 in the final on Saturday.

“We have been working for 106 years and this is not just for us, it’s for the whole Renwick community and everyone who has gone before us,” said a jubilant Josh Holdaway to the gathered crowd at Lansdowne Park, moments before he held the trophy aloft.

“This trophy is for everyone who has put on this jersey,” Holdaway declared.

Those wearing the green and white hoops of Renwick were made to earn their title on the No 3 ground, with three second-half tries to Central taking the match right down to the wire.

However, Renwick’s win was set-up by staunch defence through most of the match and so it was fitting that the final play came when a Central knock-on was forced following a tackle from hard-working openside flanker Cody Weir.

Jubilation ensured from Renwick players and supporters, with tears of joy flowing for some.

The defensive effort saw Renwick shut out Central in the first half, the Green Machine claiming a 15-0 halftime lead following an opening 40 with the wind at their backs.

“The sun and the wind was a big factor, but we definitely came out of the blocks flat,” Central captain and first five-eighth Jake Cresswell said following the final whistle.

“To get up and get within one try was a good achievement, but we thought we would be better than that,” he added.

The match had barely kicked-off before players were forced into a 10-minute wait as Renwick lock Jaydn Holdaway was stretchered off with a serious ankle injury, followed soon after by their hooker, Sione Lonitenisi, also forced from the field.

However, the changes to their line up did not unsettle a slick first-half showing from the Green Machine. First full-back Michael Dillon opened the scoring with a penalty goal, followed by a 30-metre intercept try to first-five eighths Alex Barnsley. Then, just before the half time break, well-timed passes saw the Renwick backline set winger Sailasa Leqeti in space, who finished in the corner to help his side to a 15-0 lead.

In between those tries Central had moments of dominance, including a period hammering in tight to the ruck at Renwick’s try line spanning at least a half dozen phases.

“We have worked on our defence so much throughout the year and as a team we thought defense would win us games, and that is what it did here today,” Holdaway said.

The second half saw Renwick turn into the wind but they soon pushed their lead out to 22-0 when stand-out centre Zac Harrison-Jones slipped through several tackles to score a superb 30 metre solo try, converted by Dillon.

As the second half wore on Central began to show the class that saw them enter the final as the best-performed Marlborough team this season, finally breaking through Renwick’s defences to score through blindside flanker Jeremy Foley at the 55-minute mark, converted by fullback Mitch Smith.

While Dillon landed another penalty goal to push Renwick ahead 25-7, Central hit back through strong running mid-fielder Nigel Satherley and then an impressive tackle break and 40 metre sprint to the line by lock Jack Powell in the dying minutes.

With both tries being converted by Smith it had Central with their tails up and in with a chance as the match entered the final moments.

Renwick supporters watched on nervously, wondering if another opportunity for glory was about to slip from their grasp.

“One minute to go, down by one try, I would have gone to the TAB and chucked it all on us,” Cresswell said wryly of his team’s chances afterwards.

“The tides definitely did sway and that’s finals footy I guess. They played well tactically all day and deserved their spoils.”

Renwick’s was a team victory, getting whole-hearted performances all over the park and having to call on their bench players early due to injury. The tactical kicking of Dillon and Barnsley from their key positions was instrumental, while midfielders Harrison-Jones and Kyle Marfell were strong in attack and defence. In their pack, flankers Josh Holdaway and Weir put in tireless 80-minute performances, while Atunaisa Taufa performed well for 78 minutes off the bench, replacing the early injured younger Holdaway at lock.

No 8 Kurt Schollum shouldered the load of lineout throwing effectively following the early injury to Renwick’s hooker and also cleaned up well at the back of a scrum, where Central often had the green pack moving backwards thanks in large part to front rowers Peter and Tino Vakaloa.

The flanker combination of Foley and Sitaleki Baker were to the fore for Central, but at the end of the day Renwick done just enough to kick-off a celebration over a century in the making.

“Unreal,” the Renwick skipper said following the presentation of the trophy. “I can’t even describe the feeling we have here at the moment. It is incredible.”

In the division two match, which was played as the curtain raiser to the division one final, Awatere were too strong for Central, prevailing 35-15. They led 20-3 at the half, having had the wind at their backs, and then scored first in the second half to lead 25-3 before holding off a Central revival.

Flynn Struthers secured player of the day for the victorious Tussock Jumpers.

Scorers: Renwick 25 (Alex Barnsley, Sailasa Leqeti, Zac Harrison-Jones tries, Michael Dillon 2 con, 2 pen) Central 21 (Jeremy Foley, Nigel Satherley, Jack Powell tries, Mitchell Smith 3 con) HT 15-0.