Rugby: Overseas players liven things up

Inoke Naufahu.
Inoke Naufahu.
North Otago rugby heated up in the final series of matches, with country clubs Kurow and Maheno beginning to press strong claims for berths in the semifinals, which are still some nine weeks away.

Both are building up and maintaining momentum which is the key to a top-four berth.

The second round kicks off this weekend, although with the opening of duck-shooting, games will be varied.

The game between the above mentioned clubs - Maheno and Kurow - was played last night at the Maheno Domain.

Maheno won 11-5. Athletic Marist and Excelsior will play on No 2 ground at 3pm tomorrow while the match between Old Boys and Valley will be played as drawn on the No 1 ground at 3pm.

North Otago rugby has over the seasons been assisted by the input of overseas players.

Three new players were on display for Athletic Marist against Old Boys last week.

Seventeen-year-old first five-eighth Dan Walker, a former England under-18 triallist, looked sharp, while threequarter Chris Slater and inside back Ben Ellis started on the bench.

Ellis, a 22-year-old from Wales, can fill the inside back positions while Slater, from Dallas, Texas, has a North Otago link.

His rugby coach in Dallas is former North Otago and Maheno player Bruce McGregor, son of the late Ken McGregor, an All Black triallist, who played 60 games for North Otago at halfback.

After the first round of Citizens Shield play, Old Boys halfback Inoke Naufahu is the top points-scorer with 64 to his credit, followed by Kurow's Ben Nowell (56), Athletic Marist's Simon Lillicama (55) and Valley's Brad McKenzie (35).

Top tryscorers are Lillicama (6) and Old Boys forward Lio Havili (5), followed by Ralph Darling (Old Boys), Adam Johnson (Maheno) and Sam Fleming (Kurow), all with four tries.

Eighteen-year-old Lillicama is a student at St Kevin's College.

Because of the age limitation in the secondary schools competition he plays for Athletic Marist, but is available to play for the school in traditional interschool fixtures.

Competition leader Old Boys in five games has scored 39 tries, followed by Kurow (24), Athletic Marist (20), Maheno (17), Valley (10) and Excelsior (8).

My form XV after the first round would be: Harry Frost, Simon Lillicama, Lemi Masoe, Ben Nowell, Adam Johnson, Robbie Smith, Inoke Naufahu; Samisoni Tongotongo, Matt Duff, Sam Forsythe, Rob Verbarkel, Lio Havili, Forbes Meehan, Ralph Darling, and Robbie Richardson.

Reserves: Mike Paterson, Hayden Tisdal, Isaac Shields, Alex Hill, Emanuel Dutack, Seti Talalelei, Ratu Karamaena.

- Terry O'Neill 

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