Metro ready for Bush SC rematch after strong win over FOB-Oroua
By Jared Smith
St Johns Whanganui Metro wrapped up a successful latter half run in the MRU Colts first round with a 41-5 dismissal of Feilding Old Boys-Oroua at Spriggens Park on Saturday.
Already safe for the Top 5 Championship group when the split in the nine-team grade occurred this week, Metro (5-3) still couldn’t take sixth place FOB-Oroua (3-5) lightly, as they will be clear favourites to top the Consolation group.
The home side led 26-5 at halftime, and stayed comfortable with 15 more unanswered points, although coach Mark Cosford said the visitors never quit trying.
“They just kept coming at us, so it was good for our guys to have a bit of pressure.
“Because we’ve got the teams that were above us now.”
Flanker Isaac Jordan scored a hat trick, while player-of-the-day prop Brandon Burberry got a double.
The other tries came from skipper Lucas Reardon and Jack Annabell, while halfback Jerome McKenna had another standout game.
Metro will now kick off the Championship round against one of their vanquishers from the first round in Bush SC (7-1), who beat them 25-19 at Bush Park on May 14.
Bush’s points differential (59) is second-least of the top group, including Metro (99), but the Pahiatua club has the habit of backing their defence and then pulling out the tight games – as happened with Metro, who were narrowly leading late in the match until a dropped ball saw the home side dash to the other end to score the match-winner.
“They do enough to win at critical stages. They scored a try against the run of play,” said Cosford.
“It’s a change for the boys to have a bit of redemption, because that’s one they let slip through their fingers.
“It’s a change for the boys to have a bit of redemption, because that’s one they let slip through their fingers
“We’re looking forward to that. We’ve got good numbers now – it’s good for us having a good amount of people turning up.
“Mind you, all teams improve during the year.”
Kickoff is 12.45pm in Whanganui.
HAPPENINGS
COLLEGIATE: The Whanganui Collegiate 1st XV will go into the Minor Final of the 96th Quadrangular Tournament on Wednesday after a 47-33 loss to Christ’s College at the school grounds on Monday. For the second season in a row, they will face Wellington College, who lost narrowly to defending champions Nelson College 34-31. The Minor Final is at 11.30am, with the Christ’s vs Nelson Major Final at 1pm. Both games will be live on Sky Sport.
