SILVERDALE VS MAHURANGI (Preseason ) 8th March 2025: 31-40

This is the first game following some good buildup at preseason trainings in Nov/Dec and January to March. A first test for the players and coaches alike, everyone was buzzing with anticipation.

We travelled to Warkworth for the game in warm conditions and a stiff breeze. Silverdale won the toss and kicked off with the wind behind us. We won the first breakdown and kicked for touch. Unfortunately the wind was too strong and the ball carried into the dead ball zone. Mahu win their scrum and end up kicking for space to turn the ball over to Silverdale. We make the most of it and work the ball back into their corner. After a good Mahu lineout they carry well to gain territory but good tackling causes them to spill the ball. We win our scrum, then kick to the corner, this time finding touch. A good lineout and drive from Silverdale is followed up with a cross field kick pass which carries into touch on the full. Silverdale contest strongly in the line out to get the turnover and drive towards the line. Three phases later and a strong wrestle for the ball from Mosese Fosita sees him run to the line for the first try of the game. The conversion is unsuccessful. 5-0 to Silverdale.

Mahu kick off into touch on the full. We win the line out, get through a few phases before Mahu turn it over. The next five plus minutes sees the possession being traded between the two teams, after which Mahu kick high and long for territory which lands in fullback Angus Henare’s arms and he spots multiple gaps to run through the whole team and make a pass to Gannon Moore inside Mahu’s 22 to beat the last defender and get the 2nd try under the posts. Its converted, 12-0 to Silverdale.

Mahu kick off and an overturning tackle sees their 2nd five into the bin. The next five minutes we make good carries in the forwards from Shaun Neilsen and Dan Goodfellow, and backs Matt Renal and Tom Barham. This takes us to the 1st 20 minute break. A good start at this point.

Within five minutes Silverdale are within Mahu’s 22 and Matt Renal out wide receives the ball to beat the last defender and get to the line before the Mahu fullback takes him out with a no-arms tackle to receive a yellow card and Silverdale receives a penalty try. 19-0 to Silverdale.

Mahu carry for multiple phases after the kick off and they make their way into our half, but their eagerness sees a wide pass intercepted by Blake Forward and he makes it comfortably over the try line. The conversion is a good one from out wide. 26-0 to Silverdale.

Mahu kick off and slowly make their way into our half. We’re caught off side and a strong scrum gives them momentum to pick and go up to our line. We defend well, but eventually Mahu get across our line. They get the conversion. 26-7 to Silverdale.

We kick off and get a penalty which is kicked into their corner. A crooked throw in the line out loses us possession, but shortly after this the end of the half arrives.

We change up the team with reserves & fresh legs, quite a different team, and so does Mahu. At the start they pin us in our half and a couple of line breaks puts us under pressure. Mahu pick and go to the line again, and after a scrum at 5m the full back playing at the half back position makes a dash to the line to score. The conversion is good. 26-14 to Silverdale.

We kick deep into their half and have some good runs by Matt Renal which maintain our territory. Mahu start tackling high and get a warning from the referee. We pin them on their 5m line. Some slick hands fins the ball out wide for Toka Inamata to get across the line. Its unconverted into the wind. 31-14 to Silverdale.

Mahu kick off deep and Toka carries well. We maintain phases to get to half way before the ball is turned over. Both teams carry well for the next period of play. Mahu break some tackles and get the ball across our try line. A scuffle at this time results in both teams getting a red card! The conversion is successful to take us to the 60 minute break. 31-21 to Silverdale.

We kick off into the wind and Mahu run it back at us finding gaps and making their way into our 22. Some lax defence sees Mahu across the line under our posts. Its converted. 31-28 to Silverdale.

Uncontested scrums and some heavy rain sums up the play and Mahu makes the most of it to score quickly. The conversion is good. 31-35 to Mahu.

Next Silverdale sees a period of good possession and territory, some scrums going both ways, but Mahu have the advantage when they score the final try from a fortunate kick inside their half and into our in-goal and their pace sees them touch the ball first for the try. Its unconverted. Final score 31-40 to Mahu.

Notable efforts go to Matt Renal in the backs playing a full game and having the slickest feet of the park, and Thomas Murray-Edwards for his huge defensive efforts in the loose forwards. Next week we have a week off with being in camp at Mangawhai, and the following weekend we host Eden Rugby Club.

Article added: Tuesday 11 March 2025