Exhale. Finally our Premiers put a commanding performance we knew they are capable of. After weeks of close losses and a draw, the Red Machine fired into life with a dominant first half performance to sink Tawa at Lyndhurst Park.
The forward pack came out with a real fire in their bellies showing they were here to play. This quickly translated into points as James Tuiatua crashed over after five minutes. Tawa quickly bounced back with a great wingers try, but the next 25 minutes were all red.
Dominating territory and possession the momentum was all with the visiting side who racked up four first half tries including two outstanding team efforts (watch out for video on social media this week). The first half had an extra 10 minues played with Tawa earning repeated penalties in their only sustained attack of the first half. The MSP defense was resolute and kept wave after wave of attack out to take a 29-7 lead into the break.
Half time oranges proved fruitful for the home side who stirred into life in the second half to score three tries of their own. But a 50 metre penalty to James Proctor and a 68th minute try to flanker Charlie Gubb kept their nose ahead. On the stroke of full time Jack Taulapapa put it beyond doubt intercepting the ball in our own 22 to then finish the play under the posts at the other end (video below).
Our Premiers travel to Paremata-Plimmerton in round eight of ten in the Swindale Shield, likely needing to win all three games to qualify for the Jubilee Cup.
Earlier, the Premier Reserves stayed unbeaten in the Harper Lock Shield with a comprehensive victory over third placed Tawa. Their Old Timers Day clash with Northern United in a fortnight's time will likely decide the winner of that grade.
The Colts also continued their winning ways, picking up their fourth bonus point win from four games with a big win over Tawa down the road at Redwood Park. They play also unbeaten Old Boys-University next week which could decide the Paris Memorial Trophy competition.