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.
Captain Jamie Booth will be on the comeback trail after a knee injury marred his 2020 campaign. Recent Turbos such as wing-fullbacks Adam Boult and Ben Werthmuller and first-five Ben Wyness must play their way in via club rugby. Lively Varsity wing Korie Winters, back from playing for Edinburgh in the Pro 14, deserves a look. There s a glut of young halfbacks. Bryn Wilson took over when Jamie Booth was injured last season but three other challengers for the No 2 spot include Griffin Culver (Feilding) and plying the Kayne Hammington route are Wellington training squad and Petone halfback Logan Henry (Feilding Old Boys-Oroua) and College Old Boys Ben Stephens (formerly Marist-St Pat s).
SunLive - A farewell to Donny McCaskie - The Bay s News First sunlive.co.nz - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from sunlive.co.nz Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
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 Jared Goodson, who was a regular lineout target, and Elyjah Crosswell got stuck into everything. Pacey Freyberg wing Varcon King showed a clean pair of heels again and scored two tries, while midfielder Josh Maoate and hard-working openside flanker Michael Halutuituia had strong games.