COLTS REPORT
Tawa vs Oriental-Rongotai, 18.04.25
This was a Colts encounter that had a few other Wellington Colts clubs
draw their attention to the Lyndhurst Park sidelines and take notes.
Two big forward packs and a lot of speed in both backlines. Both teams were led by their inspirational captains: Ories Semurana Fepulea'i and Tawa Hadley Vaoliko.
The weather conditions were
predicted for rain and definitely a wet surface.
First 5 mins - Tawa took a 7 - 0 lead running towards the fire service end, with prop Jarred Kuresa folding around to receive a nice short ball from Tawa halfback Jeremiah Frost to score nice and low underneath the sticks. Tawa 1st V Randall Paenga slots conversion.
What seemed to be another big score on the cards from the previous week’s 120-0 riot vs Johnsonville Colts… But the Ories had other plans.
The Ories were successful in two penalties that were in close range and bread and butter for their English import 1st V Oliver Goringe. Tawa 7 - Ories 6.
Tawa definitely had the most territory and possession in the first half, but just needed to be more patient, especially in the Ories' 22 where certain tries were spoiled from knock-ons, held up, and turn overs.
Halftime: 7 - 6 to Tawa.
Ill discipline cost Tawa a gift penalty in front for Ories Olly Goringe to slot three points over. 9 - 7 to Ories.
Ories now have found some sort of momentum and a string of penalties from their own half to an attacking lineout just out of Tawa’s 22. A clean Ories lineout to halfback Aaron
Gollan, who snips through and evades three Tawa players to pass an inside ball to his prop Xavior Sola, who crosses over - Ories try. Olly Gorgine slots the conversion from the side.
16 - 7 to Ories with 25 mins to play.
Tawa now knows this is a much
harder and competitive opposition to the one they played the previous week. It was time to reset and not focus on the score but the little things they do well.
With a a few phrases but together in the Ories' 22 and Ories guilty of offside. Tawa draws closer to the Ories' line with another penalty rewarded… Tawa halfback Jeremiah Frost quick taps to
prop Joseph Samuelu who goes nice and low over for a five pointer. Conversion successful from Randall Paenga.
16 - 14 to Ories.
Tawa scores again with more patience in their phrases and crept inside the Ories' 22, where a quick ball from the blind side
Anthony Hunt put a short ball for Jonty Baker to score. Tawa try! Conversion successful from Randall Paenga.
21 - 16 to Tawa.
The final ten minutes were a seesaw affair, as both teams are putting their impact players off the bench. Tawa’s Vati Valu and Ories'
Moli Taulogo are making statements with blockbusting runs and line breaks. Penalty to Ories. 46m monster landed by their 1st V Olly Goringe.
21 - 19 to Tawa.
Vati Valu is making his presence felt on defence and with ball in hand. Ories are trying hard to stop
this Tawa momentum into their red zone with no penalties, but Tawa prop Jarred Kuresa puts this game away in driving low for his second try of the game and match winner! Conversion not successful.
26 - 19 to Tawa.
With only a few mins left, the Ories kept
plugging away but eventually knocked on and that’s how it ended. Tawa were lucky to get the W here. Back to the drawing board on Tuesday.
