Sydenham upsets Hornby

Press, 12 September 1988, Page 18

Sydenham upsets Hornby

Sydenham achieved the first of two late season rugby league objectives when it upset Hornby, 28-24, in the Gore Cup (bottom four) final at the Addington Show Grounds yesterday. Its next assignment is-to retain its premier status. Sydenham plays Woolston on Sunday and Kaiapoi one week later in the remaining promotion relegation fixtures. To stay in the top grade Sydenham must win both games and achieve a scoring percentage superior to that of either Kaiapoi or Linwood.

A 44-4 defeat of Woolston yesterday left Linwood with four competition points from its three matches . and a points differential of plus 26. Kaiapoi has so far won both its games and has a differential of plus . 33. Woolston was performing at a level well below premier status yesterday and but for Linwood calling up more members of its president’s grade squad would probably have been run off its feet. Instead, Linwood restricted itself to a pace to. which Woolston was more accustomed and must now rely on other clubs to decide its immediate future.

Sydenham, to its credit, carried the Gore Cup final to

the much more favoured Hornby side. Sydenham survived a tense first half period when the scores were locked at 6-6 for 22min, and recovered from lapses early in the third quarter as it briefly fell behind Hornby. Superbly led by Esene Faimalo — the "man of the match” award winner — Sydenham had plenty of power among the forwards and flair in the outside backs.

The speedy wing, Tony Taase, twice touched down

after eagerly supporting his forwards, Faimalo laid on two tries, and Pesa Aoimanu spurted 60m after an interception for Sydenham’s final try. Apart from the early stages of the second spell, Hornby looked short of match fitness. It equalled Sydenham’s five tries, but lost its goal-kicker, Stuart Ward. His replacement, Shane Hand, compensated by scoring two tries. Scorers. —

Gore Cup final: Sydenham 28 (Tony Taase two, Phil Cropper, Ron Simanu, Pesa Aoimanu tries; Kelvin Williams four goals) beat Hornby 24 (Shane Hand two, Vaughan Low, Phil Cross, Mark Nixon tries; Stiiart Ward, Steve Hann goals). Half-time, 12-6. Referee, Mr Ken Blackler.

Promotion-relegation: Linwood 44 (Steve Manuel, two, Tane Sutton two, Moko Rangiaho, Mike Dorreen, Cliff Leney, Steve Blanchard, Michael Brown tries; David Perkins four goals) beat Woolston 4 (Shane Paratine try). Half-time, 22-4. Referee, Mr Gary Baxter,

W L D F A Pt Kaiapoi 2 2 0 58 25 1 Linwood 3 2 I 70 41 1 Sydenham 1 0 1 11 16 0 Woolston 2 0 2 19 76 0