Rugby: Lawrence rides roughshod over Arrowtown

It's official. Lawrence is the best team in the Otago Country region and it proved it by thumping an uncharacteristically error-ridden Arrowtown 41-6 at Jack Reid Park on Saturday.

The large crowd expected a tough encounter but it was clear five minutes into the game that Lawrence was going to be far too strong for the home side.

Playing up the hill, the visitors went behind early when Arrowtown first five-eighth Reece Winter slotted the first of his two penalty goals.

Rangy Lawrence lock Mark Homer put his side ahead when he smashed his way over the line after a lengthy build-up.

Winter quickly landed his second penalty goal but that was to be the last scoring play for Arrowtown.

Lawrence scored the second of its six tries when classy fullback Sean Macaskill ran a beautiful line and gathered a perfect short ball from Sam Young to score under the posts.

Hooker Jake Maiono, the best Lawrence forward, then scored approaching half-time, and Young knocked over a penalty goal to blow the lead out to 22-6 at the break.

Arrowtown tried to stage a comeback early in the second half but Lawrence was up to the task, tackling with vigour and aggression to snuff out any impetus the home side had.

Flying Fijian winger Sonny Vakaruru scored the first of his two tries in the 47th minute after scooping up turnover ball and cutting through the disorganised Arrowtown defence.

Two more tries were scored, by powerful No 8 Junior Maiono and Vakaruru, to bulge out the score.

Arrowtown's best chance came when replacement lock Simon Spark chipped a ball through and winger Daniel Eyles handled the rolling ball brilliantly, only to fumble it over the line in the stretch.

That mistake summed up Arrowtown's day - too many handling errors and too many defensive lapses in its backline.

Lawrence had a number of stand-out players, the best of those being first five-eighth Young and halfback James Kenny.

The inside backs were a step above the rest of the players on the field, and their touches of brilliance justified their early-season inclusion in the Otago squad.

The Maiono brothers had strong games, as did Macaskill and Lex Kaleca.

From the talent on display in the countrywide final, the Otago Country squad looks in good stead for its tour matches starting later this week.

Lawrence 41 (M Homer, S Macaskill, J Maiono, S Vakaruru 2, J Maiono tries, S Young 4 conversions, penalty goal) Arrowtown 6 (R Winter 2 penalty goals).

Half-time: Lawrence 22-6.