Mooloos runners up in ITM Cup 2010
5th November 2010 10:22PM
It was a wet and windy Christchurch that hosted the 2010 ITM Cup final. With only a small crowd braving the elements, the game was looking to be quite an even game. With Canterbury having home support, and Waikato dominating a couple of weeks earlier, it was difficult to predict the outcome of this match.
The game didn't start in an ideal fashion for Waikato, with Canterbury capitalising on a mistake in-goal to bring up the first points of the final. The wind kept the conversion away from the posts, and this was a sign of things to come.
The mighty mooloo men quickly responded in tried and true fashion, the forwards mauling towards the line. After a number of phases Toby Smith charged over the line to score.
After trading penalty goals, Canterbury hit back through a charge down, scoring just before the break.
Both teams came out strongly in the second half, though Canterbury were the first to put points on the board with a penalty. Waikato, as they have so often this season hit back, with substitution Brendon Leonard directing the backline well and Save Tokula making good yards after a spell in the blood bin. The ball through the hands led to a good try by Henry Speight, scoring in the corner.
Canterbury then put on the pressure, and maintained possession for large periods of time. A try was scored from yet another charge down, and then another from a good bounce of the ball and strong running from Colin Slade.
It wasn't to be Waikato's night, with the game drawing to a close. The scoreline didn't reflect the contest, but Canterbury did turn the tables from two weeks ago, avenging their 20 point loss.
Congratulations to the Waikato team for an excellent ITM Cup season, and we look forward to seeing them in action in 2011.
First Half:
Half time score: 8 - 13
Tries: Toby Smith
Penalty: Renata
Second Half:
Full time score: 13 - 33
Tries: Henry Speight
The Waikato team who played Canterbury was:
1. Toby Smith
2. Aled de Malmanche
3. Nathan White (captain)
4. Toby Lynn
5. Romana Graham
6. Dominiko Waqaniburotu
7. Jack Lam
8. Alex Bradley
9. Tawera Kerr-Barlow
10. Trent Renata
11. Dwayne Sweeney
12. Jackson Willison
13. Save Tokula
14. Henry Speight
15. Sosene Anesi
Reserves:
16. Hikairo Forbes
17. Ben May
18. Kent Fife
19. Zak Hohneck
20. Brendon Leonard
21. Christian Lealiifano
22. Tim Mikkelson
