By the end of the match we couldn’t tell who was on which team as each lad was covered head to toe in mud. The poor conditions dictated the both team’s style of play.
The game commenced well for King’s with backs and forwards combining well, to apply pressure to the home team that saw No. 8 AJay Mua score close to the posts. Ciarahn Matoe converted and King’s led, 7-0.
The game took a turn when a few crucial decisions were made that changed the outcome of the game. Following the try, King’s went straight back to attack and forced two penalties in a great position close to the posts.
Instead of taking a shot at a goal, we chose to tap quickly and run one of them and kicked the other into the corner to try score from a lineout drive. Neither of them came to anything and De La Salle were given a lifeline.
Realising we should have taken the points when awarded two more penalties, we did shoot for a goal, but both penalties were not as well positioned and both missed the mark.
With the field now almost completely churned up, it was becoming impossible to get any backline moves going as the ball was covered in mud.
The encounter become forward dominated and De La Salle were first to score in the second half, although unable to convert.
At this point in the game we made a lot of critical errors which gave De La Salle the edge and used their boys to keep the ball close, keeping us pinned down inside our own half, stuck in the mud and unable to get ourselves out of trouble.
Eventually De La Salle applied enough pressure and one of their forwards rumbled over the try line. However, once again their kicker could not convert the try.
Down 7-10 with several minutes to play, the boys tried in vain to get out of our half, but the conditions by then were unplayable and the game ground down to a series of scrums and no further score to give De La Salle a well-deserved win. Once again, we were left with a losing bonus point for finishing within 7 points.
“It was a disappointing way to end the season that started with great potential,” says Rugby Head Coach, Tasesa Lavea.
“It’s left us with a feeling of regret and what could have been, but I am hugely proud of our First XV boys for their resilience this season.”
Thank you to the following sponsors for their support of King's College Rugby:
Premier Sports Sponsor and Rugby Sponsor: Auckland City BMW
Rugby sponsors
