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Tawa College hooker and captain Malachai Suniula and teammates with the Beard Trophy after defending it for the fourth and final time this year at Porirua Park. Photo: Peter McDonald.
Tawa College have locked the Beard Trophy away for another summer after successfully defending it for the fourth and final time of the winter this evening against Aotea College at a rowdy Jerry Collins Stadium.
Three of Tawa College’s tries – two in the first half and their first one of the second half.
Despite a run of injuries late last term, Tawa have been rarely troubled this year in their first full slate of defences since winning it off Mana College last year. After beating Bishop Viard, Porirua and Mana Colleges in May and June, Tawa have beaten Aotea College 67-0 under lights tonight in fine but slippery conditions.
Following rousing hakas, Premier 2 team Aotea were competitive in some areas such as the scrum battle but were no match for Tawa’s expansive running game. Tawa were quick to counterattack from anywhere and tapped and went whenever they won a penalty – the first lineout of the match wasn’t until the 24th minute.
Tawa ran in 11 tries on the night, six in the first half and five in the second. Tawa led 36-0 at halftime, and after running in their next try early in the second spell a sizable score was on the cards.
Aotea then lost then their attacking second five Kitiona Lua to injury, but this break in play while he was attended to and departed the field disrupted the game’s flow somewhat and there was no further scoring for almost 15 minutes. Both sides also brought their substitutions on in this time and Aotea went close on a couple of occasions.
With about 10 minutes to play, Tawa ran in a 70-metre try from an overthrown Aotea lineout, second five Malachai Osman finishing this off. They brought up their half century with a penalty and tap close to the line and then finished the game with a pair of sweeping tries in the final few minutes.
Tawa now turn their attention to hosting Scots College this weekend in the eighth and penultimate round of the College Premiership.
Earlier today, St Pat’s Silverstream defeated St Pat’s Town 50-5 at Evans Bay Park.
