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.
COB, through their offloading, piled on five more tries to be 36-0 up and a cricket score beckoned in the second spell. One try was a beauty from a restart when Andre Taylor ran from his own line, Johnny Galloway crosskicked and Andrew McDougall scored 100 metres upfield. Instead, Freyberg won the second half 19-5 after they reconfigured their backline and rumbled on the oldest club player in Manawatū, 42-year-old lock Karl Stewart. COB began conceding penalties and injuries hit badly including serious ones to lock Jared Goodson (ribs) and wing Awatere Kiwara (knee).
WARWICK SMITH/Stuff
College Old Boys first five-eighth Stewart Cruden, right, tries to push off Freyberg fullback Beau Hourigan.
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).