3rd October 2021
The NZRL National Competition entered its second week of round one as Waikato met Wellington and Otago faced off against Southland. The Women’s competition also saw Upper-Central take on their Wellington counterparts.
Davies Park in Huntly played host as Waikato ran away 54-16 winners against Wellington in round one of the NZRL National Competition.
Waikato started strong and dominated throughout as they piled on the points early. Tries to Filipo and Ulaula brought the Orcas back within striking distance, but they couldn’t overcome a clinical display by Jayden Flood, who scored four of his own in the first stanza. Former Kiwi Te Maire Martin made his return to representative rugby league and had his footprint all over the game, scoring two and assisting three.
A solid first outing from last year’s NZRL Championship winners Upper-Central run out 32-4 winners over Wellington. The Stallions came out of the blocks strong and never relinquished the lead after Manirewa Howell’s opening score in the third minute. Harata Butler and Ngamoko Totorewa both scored doubles as Upper-Central started their competition off with a win.
Southland Men edged Otago Whalers 28-18 at Elles Road Park, Invercargill, to earn their first win of the 2021 campaign. Southland moves to second in the Southern pool.
Nga Puna Wai played host to day two of the National Competition as the Mid Central Vipers women took on Canterbury Women in the first clash of the day.
The Vipers had all the momentum to begin the game as Odelle Junior Edwards opened the scoring for Mid Central. Hooker Paris Paul kept Canterbury guessing as she went over for the Vipers second shortly after.
After 20 minutes, Canterbury fullback Dayna Napa opened the scoring for the home team, and it was all Canterbury from there.
Gloria Su’a scored off a Poko cross-field kick shortly after, while Poko dotted one down for herself right before the halftime hooter, giving her side a 16 – 8 lead.
Canterbury maintained their dominance right throughout the second half with four unanswered tries to the home team, securing themselves a convincing 38-8 victory over the Mid Central Vipers Women.
The Men’s National Comp clash between the home side favourites Bulls and West Coast Chargers followed as Toi Sepuloni opened the scoring for the Bulls in the first two minutes.
It was all the Bulls, as they claimed six more unanswered tries before the halftime break as the Chargers struggled to get their hands on the ball.
Despite the one-sided display, the West Coast chargers earned themselves their first points of the game to begin the second forty through five-eighth Jordan Duggan. However, momentum was short-lived as the Bulls answered back quickly off a West Coast mistake shortly after.
From there, the Bulls ran away with the game, too good for the Chargers scoring seven more unanswered tries, taking the total Bulls’ try tally to 15, earning themselves a convincing 82 – 6 victory.
West Coast Chargers (30) v Southland (20) – Wingham Park, Greymouth
Waikato Mana (54) v Wellington Orcas (16) – Davies Park, Huntly
Southland (28) v Otago (18) – Elles Road Park, Invercargill
Canterbury Bulls (82) v West Coast Chargers (6) – Nga Puna Wai, Christchurch
Upper Central Stallions (32) v Wellington Orcas (4) – Davies Park, Huntly
Canterbury Women (38) v Mid Central Vipers (8) – Nga Puna Wai, Christchurch
