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Dan D’Urban-Burgess broke through the Wolves.
The wolves leapt over the line four times.
Jackson Gravatt was in the final winning team last year.
Jonathan Killick
news@localmatters.co.nz
It has been a baptism of fire for the fresh faces in Mahurangi College’s 1st XV rugby team, with two early clashes against old neighbouring rivals.
They first met with the Kaipara U18 Wolves for a friendly cross-union preseason match in Wellsford.
The Wolves play in the Northland Rugby Union and comprise players from Wellsford, Otamatea and Dargaville.
They include Wellsford’s Patrick Abellera, who was picked for the Philippines U19 team.
In the first half, teams were well matched, though Wolves scored the first try just before the whistle to lead 5-0 at half time.
Wolves went on to dominate the second half.
Mahurangi veteran Jackson Gravatt was audibly trying to pull his young team mates into line and there were some shining performances, including by Mahurangi Year 11 Dan D’Urban-Burgess who tackled and charged through players twice his size.
He scored Mahurangi’s only try in the second half, which was successfully converted.
Although the game was unscored, this reporter’s notes record a 23-8 victory to the Wolves.
It was a fantastic showing from the Wolves, considering some players started the match without even knowing their teammates’ names.
The loss must have given Mahurangi a kick because the team came back stronger for its match against Orewa College the following weekend for the Murray Jones Shield.
Mahurangi took an early lead with a blindside snipe that caught Orewa napping.
This stung nine-time shield defenders Orewa, who put together backline moves that produced three tries and a 17-12 halftime lead.
After scoring first in the second half and with the wind at their backs, Orewa might have been expected to pull away, but Mahurangi mounted a spirited fightback.
The game ended with Mahurangi on the attack looking to square the game. They came up just short – the final score of 24-17 gave the game to Orewa.
This season, Mahurangi College has joined Orewa in moving up to the 1A grade, after a stunning victory last year against Kaipara College in the 1B finals.
It means that Mahurangi will most likely get the chance of a rematch for the shield when the two colleges play again for the official start of the season this Saturday, July 4.
