Match Report: Carterton v East Coast – 11 June 2022

Carterton 15 (Aseri Waqa, Tupou Lea’aemanu tries; Sam Morison conversion & penalty) East Coast 17.

Carterton hosted East Coast for the Lane Penn Cup in the Town and Country final and suffered a narrow 15-17 loss in a battler against the elements at Belvedere Road. A good crowd turned out at the home of rugby despite the harshness of a strong north-westerly wind which blew across the field and dominated the match. East Coast went on attack early and was rewarded with a penalty goal after four minutes to lead 3-0, but Carterton responded through Sam Morison’s 15-metre kick to level after 11 minutes.

East Coast had the better of the remainder of the first half, scoring from a tap penalty after 25 minutes to lead 10-3 and being narrowly denied again on the stroke of halftime. Carterton has been a strong second-half team in recent weeks and scored first in the second spell with an Aseri Waqa try on 49 minutes after a fancy tap penalty move. But although several pairs of fresh legs were introduced at this point, the tide didn’t turn in Carterton’s favour as East Coast launched a wave of attacks. Staunch defence kept the visitors at bay on several occasions until they eventually broke through after 72 minutes, the conversion took East Coast’s lead to 17-8.

The response from Carterton was immediate, storming onto attack and Zach Wakefield’s quick tap penalty leading to a Tupou Lea’aemanu converted try. There was still time to overcome the deficit, but Carterton was unable to secure its own lineout ball near halfway and time ran out. Despite the narrow margin, East Coast deserved this victory. Carterton dominated the scrums, but East Coast were superior in most other aspects, making more metres in the forwards, holding onto the ball for longer periods, kicking better and mounting the more cohesive backline moves. Carterton’s defence kept them in the game, with Aseri Waqa’s tackling again standing out and Daryl Pickering saving the team on more than one occasion.

In the forwards Tupou Lea’aemanu and Jack Loader made good ground at times and Terongo Tekii worked hard for 80 minutes.

3-2-1
1 point Brandon Wright
2 points Tupou Lea’aemanu
3 points Lachie McFadzean
Supporters’ Vote – Jack Loader

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