Waikato reclaims the Ryan Wheeler Memorial Trophy
6th July 2011 09:05PM
It was a fantastic turnout in Te Awamutu, despite the weather, for Waikato's final pre-season game against Taranaki.
Taranaki's first five-eighth Beauden Barrett put the first points on the board by successfully kicking the penalty. New Zealand Seven's star Declan O'Donnell scored his first try for the side by breaking through the Naki's defensive line 10 minutes before half time with first five-eighth Trent Renata converting the try and successfully kicking a penalty but with two minutes to go Beauden Barrett scored and converted his own try to lock up the score at halftime, 10-10.
Into the second half Barrett took the lead for the Naki 13 - 10 two minutes into the second half however Trent Renata quickly replied with a try in the right hand corner. Stephen Donald converted the try to take the lead with 20mins to go, 17-13. This was followed up by a hard fought forwards try to number 8 Alex Bradley and five minutes later scored his second try of the game.
The final score was 31-13 to Waikato.
Waikato takes on Southland next Friday the 15th of July in their first competition game of the season.
The Waikato team was
1. Ted Tauroa (Otorohanga)
2. Marcel Cummings-Toone (University)
3. Nathan White (Te Awamutu Sports) ©
4. Toby Lynn (Te Rapa)
5. Chris Middleton (Te Awamutu Sports)
6. Matt Vant Leven (Fraser Tech)
7. Marty Holah (Hamilton Marist)
8. Alex Bradley (Morrinsiville Sports)
9. Malcolm Barnes (Hamilton Old Boys)
10. Trent Renata (Hamilton Marist)
11. Declan O'Donnell (Melville)
12. Jackson Willison (Hamilton Old Boys)
13. Save Tokula (Fraser Tech)
14. Frank Halai (Hamilton Marist)
15. Tim Mikkelson (University)
Reserves:
16. Aled de Malmanche (Hamilton Old Boys)
17. Ben May (Te Awamutu Sports)
18. Toby Smith (Hamilton Old Boys)
19. Zak Hohneck (Otorohanga)
20. Rory Grice (Otorohanga)
21. Romana Graham (Hautapu)
22. Tawera Kerr-Barlow (Hautapu)
23. Stephen Donald (University)
24. Sam Christie (Fraser Tech)
25. Rena Schuster (Hamilton Old Boys)
