After 15 weeks of a long, extended pre-season due to COVID-19, round one of the Auckland Club Rugby Premier season was finally upon us. With a first-round assignment against defending Gallaher Shield Champions Eden, at Gribblehirst Park, it does not get much harder than that. The secret to Eden’s success is no secret, their experienced forward pack that suffocates and grinds teams down at set-piece is one of the best in the competition, and Varsity knew that their forward pack would need to roll their sleeves up if they were to get the job done.

On a glorious Auckland afternoon, played on a noticeably smaller Gribblehirst Park, Varsity started the match with a slight breeze at their backs and the contrasting styles were evident from the start – Eden looking to assert their dominance on attack with patience and utilising their big ball carriers off the ruck, and Varsity looking to play a more up-tempo style utilising every blade of grass. It was Varsity who would open the scoring first, via three points from First-five Tyrone Elkington after Eden infringed for being offside.

It was Varsity who would also cross for the first try of the match through prolific try-scoring winger Noah Foster. Foster latched onto a well-weighted kick in behind from Elkington to sprint away 50m untouched to score to the left of the posts, Elkington added the extras from close range to make the score 10 nil.

Eden began to claw their way back into the game, with Varsity’s handling and infringing at ruck time allowing Eden to march up the field. Eventually, Eden was rewarded a kickable penalty, in which Eden First-five Akew Poiri Wichman slotted, Varsity 10 - Eden 3.

Varsity’s second try was a fantastic team try, winning the battle of the advantage line and building multiple phases to outflank the Eden defence seeing Centre George Emosi cross the line on the left corner. Elkington was unsuccessful from wide-out, Varsity 15 – Eden 3.

HALF-TIME: VARSITY 15 – EDEN 3.

There was a real sense of belief within the Varsity half-time huddle, they could sense the opposition of Eden was beginning to tire, however, another strong 40 minutes would be required to dispatch the defending champions.

Varsity got off to a quick start, launching an attack deep inside the Eden 22mm. Eden was eventually pinged for an offside infringement, gifting Varsity 3 points from in front of the sticks which Elkington converted. Varsity 18 – Eden 3.

Perhaps the most pleasing aspect of the day was Varsity’s resolute defence, this was demonstrated when Eden would have held the ball for 20+ phases and made no in-roads or dents in the Varsity defence. Led by fearless halfback Henry Saker, whose impressive defence saw him putting forwards twice his size onto their backsides. Eden resorted to kicking the ball straight down the throat of Fullback Liam Brady, who sparked an electrifying counterattack and linked with that man again – Noah Foster, who crossed for another try. Elkington knocked over the extras 15m from the sideline, Varsity 25 – Eden 3.

Varsity quickly crossed for another five-pointer to secure a 4 try bonus point with 20 minutes left to play in what was the try of the match, and an early favourite for try of the season to winger Sage Shaw-Tait. Shaw-Tait regathered a kick in behind Eden and bee-lined it to the Eden try-line from 60m out, beating multiple defenders and displaying his speed and strength to dot down in the right corner in what was an incredible effort. Elkington swung it round from the right corner to take the score out to 32 – 3 in favour of Varsity.

Eden would eventually cross the Varsity line by ex-Varsity player Nick Laufoli through a pick-and-go after being camped in Varsity’s half.

FINAL SCORE: VARSITY 32 – EDEN 8

In a fantastic team performance against quality opposition, multiple players put their hands up on the day. Man of the Match went to half back Henry Saker, whose ferocious defence, speedy service, and probing attack caused problems for the Eden side. Lock Jonny Neary’s presence and work rate in the tight stuff inspired a valiant forward effort. Winger Noah Foster crossed for a brace of tries, taking his 2022 try tally strike rate to 12 tries from 6 games.

Of note also were the seven players making their debut for Varsity – prop Marika Beleca, locks Kalin Felise, Marine Paulo & Pat Vaovasa, flanker Will Bason, first-five Eli Margison, and mid-fielder Sake Tafea.

Varsity heads out west next week to Trusts Arena to face off against Waitakere.

Article added: Tuesday 03 May 2022