Hankins Shield News Today

“We had a goal to get the threepeat this year. We’re excited about it, hopefully not too excited and we don’t lose our composure really. “The last three years we’ve knocked Varsity out in the playoffs. There’s not going to be a team that wants it more. Hopefully that doesn’t trump our threepeat.” He said Feilding had a strong team with good culture. “[Varsity are] a good side and we know its going to be a nail-biter. We know it’s going to come down to moments and both te...

He said he hoped for third time lucky in this year’s final. Lock Micaiah Torrance-Read, who missed the semifinal with an Achilles problem, could be back for the final. COB coach Bryan Matenga said it was disappointing to miss out, but Varsity were clinical. He said they didn’t execute their game plan in a poor first half, but he was proud of his side falling just short. Varsity were slow to start and after conceding two early tries, one a 50-metre intercept by COB flanker Elyjah Crosswe...

Nesdale’s son Gary said Nesdale was a salt-of-the-earth type. “He didnt care whether you were the prime minister or the street sweeper, as long as you were a good bastard. “It didnt matter what you did, who you were or what your race, religion or colour was, it was good bastard or bad bastard.” Nesdale played for the Kimbolton club before the Ōroua sub-union became the Ōroua club. Ōroua’s golden era was in the 1960s, winning the Hankins Shield from 1963-66 and in 1968. At time...

Feilding Yellows are on track to turn their season into a golden one now they are two games away from a three-peat Hankins Shield triumph.

Te Kawau appear to have a Hankins Shield semifinal in their gunsights after comfortably beating Kia Toa.

If the Ben Werthmuller and Matene Ruawai road show keeps on trucking, don't rule out Old Boys-Marist from the Hankins Shield semifinals as they set out to run down Te Kawau.

Johnny Galloway passes from the scrum. He had a strong game on his return from injury. They foraged voraciously at breakdowns in the second half even when Varsity commanded most of the ball and ground away with their hefty scrum. Varsitys backline had only wing Korie Winters lively on attack and their defence, badly missing injured midfielder Hamish Northcott, was breached too easily by Turbos Stewart Cruden, James Tofa and Andre Taylor to set up two early tries. COBs only failing was averag...

There were also yellow cards for Dane Whale (COB), Ben Stephens (COB) and Chase Jordan (Freyberg) for infringing at the breakdown. Freyberg were up for it in parts and put COB under pressure, with standout No 8 Jekope Kitou making big runs up the middle and getting Freys on the front foot. College held the ball for longer periods, taking advantage of any Freyberg mistake, with first five-eighth Stewart Cruden finding gaps. Their scrum was a weapon and won them a penalty try. Loose forwards ...