Colts trounce Taranaki

Press, 1 August 1989, Page 28

Colts trounce Taranaki

PA New Plymouth The New Zealand Colts rugby team proved too strong for Taranaki on Sunday, beating the first division side, 4818 at New Plymouth’s Rugby Park. » The Colts, all aged under 21, ran in eight tries to two as they took the Taranaki side apart in a clinical performance. The national selector and Colts coach, John Hart was rapt with the display. “It was a big hurdle for the guys,” he said. "They played very, very well. “It wasn’t an easy game. The forwards performed well, better than I hoped for, and I’m proud of them. They came back well in the final quarter.” Considering four of the slayers, open-side flanker Pat Lam, blind-side flanker Mark Carter, the lock, Jamie Joseph and the prop, Craig

Dowd, have yet to play representative rugby, Hart said the performance was full of credit. The fullback, Matthew Ridge, the right winger George Konia and the halfback, Jason Hewett all emerged with credit. The winger, Va’aiga Tuigamala had an outstanding match, scoring a try when blistering pace carried him past both Bryce Robins and Kieran Crowley. He then cut inside a covering Dwight Murfitt to dot down wide out. He also had a hand in five other tries and with an ounce of luck could have scored a couple of them himself.

While the backs basked in the glory, it was the Colts’ forwards who laid the groundwork for the win. The props, David Morgan and Craig Dowd worked tirelessly and the loose trio of Lam, Carter and the No. 8,

Errol Brain had a clear edge over their Taranaki opposites. For Taranaki, the first half was a case of the Sunday blues. Nothing went right with the bounce going against it on almost every occasion. The fact that the players had played club rugby only 24 hours before had some effect, but they showed they could compete with a muchimproved effort in the second spell. However, a fair amount of work will need to be done before the side’s next championship match against Hawke’s Bay at Hastings on August 12.

New Zealand Colts 48 (George Konia 2, Va’aiga Tuigamal, Craig Innes, Jason Hewlett, Mark Weedon, Pat Lam, Matthew Ridge tries; Ridge 5 conv., 2 pen.) Taranaki 18 (Blair Smith, Kevin Barrett tries; Kieran Crowley 2 conv., 2 pen.).