Home vs Sumner
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Round 3
23rd April 2011 - 2:45pm Venue : RawhitiResult : 75 - 7
Match Report
The Brighton boys showed the Sumner lads why they hold the seaside shield with a dominant display.
NEW BRIGHTON v SUMNER
At Rawhiti Domain: New Brighton 75 (Keiran Black 2, Jerry Meafou 2, Aaron McCoy 2, Ryan Crotty, Rhys Keith, Lewis Pou, David Cattermole, Cameron Baines, Dayne Wipou tries; Crotty 2 conv, pen; Scott Beckingsale 4 conv) beat Sumner 7 (Reece McAffrey try; Kevin Marriner conv). HT: 32-0. Referee: Chris Wratt.
The signs were not good for Sumner from the beginning. Forced to default its division two team in order to get sufficient players resulted in 10 forced name or positional changes to the original line-up.
Sumner had some possession and territory in the opening minutes, but once New Brighton settled and put the first points on the board through a Ryan Crotty penalty, Sumner was virtually reduced to the role of spectator against its seaside cousins.
A dominant Brighton pack rolled the visitors off the ball at the rucks and mauls, creating many opportunities for their speedy backs to punch huge holes in the defence. Seven tries came from turnovers, Sumner having no answer to the determined attacks. Crotty was not at his goal-kicking best, however, landing three from eight.
Ahead 32-0 at the break and with the try bonus-point secured, Brighton never relented as seven tries were added in the second half, the yellow tide swamping Sumner. With regular openside flanker Ryan Hooper playing lock in his 99th game, his replacement Aaron McCoy took the opportunity with both hands and ran riot. He was a powerful attacker and justice was served when he scored the final two tries. Fellow loose forwards, No. 8 Aaron Williams and Keiran Black were equally as devastating in carrying the ball up.
Crotty and second five-eighths Jerry Meafou were given plenty of room to show their skills and halfback Rhys Keith had an armchair ride, scoring a delightful solo try from 40m out after a turnover. Little left wing Dayne Wipou was rewarded for his work with a fine try.
Sumner too often coughed up what little ball it got. Its only points came early in the second half after a series of penalties against Brighton earned it ground and halfback Sam Robinson took a small gap and passed to centre Reece McAffrey, who beat two flat-footed defenders.
Those two players along with blindside Matt Fitzgerald were Sumner’s best, but it was not a memorable game for coach and starting No. 8, Scott Robertson.