A try beneath the posts at the death by College Rifles snatched victory from the Ponsonby Premiers In the second round of the Waka Nathan Challenge Cup last Saturday afternoon. Ponsonby were leading by a slender 24-20, but were unable to stop College Rifles from powering over for the match winning try. The 27-24 result sees the Waka Nathan Challenge Cup leave Ponsonby’s clubrooms where it has been in residence for the past few seasons.

Played at Kelston Boys High School College, Rifles had first use of a brisk northerly breeze at their backs and benefited from two early penalties which allowed them to launch an attack on Ponsonby. Their pressure eventually resulted in a try scored by their fullback, which was unconverted.

Just shy of the first quarter mark in the match, from the right wing Johnny Tuivasa-Sheck made an impressive break and created a handy overlap, but the final exchange was mishandled. College Rifles gladly scooped up the loose ball and a move followed, sweeping some 70 metres downfield. Ponsonby were unable to stop them from scoring, seeing the riflemen take a handy 10-0 lead.

Soon after, halfback James Valentine took a quick tap penalty and some excellent work by Selestino Kalounivale saw good pressure applied, followed by a lengthy pass out to Tuivasa-Sheck on the right wing where he was able to dot down in the corner.

Presley Tufuga, William Talataina and Jordan Trainor were making their first appearance of the season, and they all featured prominently in the early stages of the match. Tufuga was an imposing figure with the ball in hand, and an impressive break by him paved the way for Ponsonby’s second try. The Tufuga break took play inside the College Rifles half, the ball going wide where Talataina was waiting out on the right wing, and he was able to sprint past the would be defenders, eventually scoring beside the posts. Trainor obliged with the extra two points, and Ponsonby took the lead in the match at 12-10.

Four minutes later, another quick tap penalty caught the College Rifles defence off-guard, and an excellent Trainor offload saw the ball go wide to Tuivasa-Sheck for his second score of the match.

College Rifles were first on the board in the second spell with a try in the left hand corner which remained unconverted.

In the 51^st minute of the match prop Daniel Mau’u barged over for Ponsonby’s fourth try of the match, the try being converted by Wiseguy Faiane. With the wind at their back and go forward momentum Ponsonby had a seemingly unassailable 24-15 lead.

However in the final quarter College Rifles scored their fourth try of the match, closing the gap on the scoreboard to 24-20. Then in the last minute of play College Rifles snaffled the ball from a Ponsonby five metre defensive scrum, and under penalty advantage were able to score the match winning try.

Article added: Monday 29 March 2021