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MAFIA TEES
Just $20 a shirt, a steal!
Not often you steal from the Mafia and live to tell the tale...
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Bay lament trio that got away |
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Written by Jamie Troughton
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Monday, 31 July 2006 |
THE last time Liam Messam scored four tries in a game, the No8 was loitering out in the backs for the Rotorua Boys' first XV.
His team-mates back then included Stephen Setephano, Willie Ripia, Cory Aporo and Mike Delany - star names in one of the best schoolboy sides to come out of Bay of Plenty.
The irony wasn't lost on Messam on Saturday, as he scored four tries for Waikato in their comprehensive 50-15 humbling of the Steamers in Hamilton. His final try came after a big run by Setephano in the previous phase and he got the final pass after a dazzling run by Ripia.
Aporo and Delany, meanwhile, were two of the better players in the losing side - a side which actually improved on their dismal loss to Hawke's Bay the previous week, but were still run over by Waikato's counter-attacking class.
Messam wasn't mincing words, describing how he, Setephano and Ripia are still stung by `traitor' barbs for leaving the Bay.
``It's always good to beat the Bay, especially when we come from there and we got bagged when we left,'' Messam said. ``It helps shut them up when we beat them like that. There's a lot of my close friends in the Bay side and it's good to get stuck into them.''
With Messam's taunts still ringing in their ears, the Steamers have a long week ahead until Friday's opening game against Wellington in the capital.
There are worrying injuries, with No8 Colin Bourke (ankle) and hooker Aleki Lutui (calf muscle) still doubtful and skipper Ben Castle nursing a sprained ankle.
The first-five conundrum isn't yet clear, although Mike Delany made another good fist of fullback when he shifted back just after halftime and could challenge Hayden Reid for a permanent spot.
Reid had a hand in the first try, albeit not one he'll remember fondly - a fortuitous break by wing David Johnston saw Reid with a clear run to the line after 16 minutes but he was gunned down by Waikato flyer Sosene Anesi as he reached out to score.
Luckily prop Simms Davison drove over for a try from the next passage of play, his fellow forwards finally showing some substance.
Leading 10-3, Bay then leaked three easy tries to Messam before halftime, beginning when he picked up from a scrum and strolled around Anthony Tahana.
Turnovers proved costly, and Bay had conceded nine penalties to Waikato's three at the break to trail 22-10. The traffic was distinctly red, yellow and black in the second half, with skilful Waikato centre Richard Kahui picked up two tries including a clever intercept.
Aporo provided the only Bay highlight, poaching a loose Waikato pass and running in.
Steamers coach Andre Bell was disappointed with the scoreline but felt at last his players had given him something to work on.
``Today they played with their heart, not with their head, but it was a definite improvement on the last two matches,'' he said.
Bay Briefs
Messam with our heads
Liam Messam's four tries against his old province were the most by any Waikato player against the Bay. John Mitchell (1989) and Roger Randle, who made his comeback on Saturday after two years away, both scored three in a match. Randle's came in the 2001 match, where Waikato won 53-14, the biggest win between the two unions. The last player to score four tries against Bay was Canterbury's Warwick Taylor in 1990.
Putting the boot in
What's with Stephen Donald's kicking style? Could he strike the ball any worse? The Waikato and Chiefs first-five punts like a giraffe with an in-grown toenail. It's like someone throwing a brick at a windmill. On the positive side for the Mooloos is big lock Toby Lynn bucking the boof-head image with long hair and a bushy beard. Chuck him some sandals instead of sprigs and he'd look right at home.
First in, best dressed
Four players made their Bay of Plenty first-class debuts on Saturday - No8 Solomon King, halfback Jamie Nutbrown, midfielder Cory Aporo and reserve forward Aidan Kuka. Aporo scored a try to mark his debut, while Kuka became Te Puna's first Bay rep since Wally Mill in 2004.
Coach's call
Steamers coach Andre Bell admitted injuries might force him to adopt a tactical approach to the season, starting with the match against Wellington on Friday night. ``It's getting a bit of a concern but we've got to look at the campaign itself, even if we have to sacrifice the first week, in preparation for the next two or three weeks after that,'' Bell said.
- Stats by BOPRU historian Brent Drabble
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Steamers 2008 |
| : Air New Zealand Cup |
| 31 July: Tasman WON 8-7 |
| 9 Aug: Counties WON 45-3 |
| 16 Aug: Harbour WON 38-31 |
| 22 Aug: Northland WON 15-10 |
| 30 Aug: Wellington Away |
| 5 Sep: Otago Baypark |
| 12 Sep: Auckland Rotorua |
| 18 Sep: Canterbury Away |
| 25 Sep: Southland Baypark |
| 3 Oct: Hawke's Bay Away |
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