Silverdale Prems vs Helensville Prems: 30-12

This weekend we travelled to Helensville for our season opening game. The weather was hot with a bit of cloud cover at times but a stiff breeze which played some effect on the game. There was even a promise of some showers which didn’t come until after the game.

Helensville kicked off to us with the wind. Whilst clearing well we are pulled up for off side and Helensville kick into our corner. They win their line out but we manage to scramble the ball and force it in-goal. From the kick out Helensville come straight at us and make some good metres in the backline before running into touch. The exit from the line out from Taylor Norwood brings us short of half way. We then get good forward  ball and work our way into their half. But we knock the ball on. The first scrum comes and Helensville win this and cross kick into the backline which bounces awkwardly and lands in the firm hands of Angus Henare and he beats two defenders down the line to score our first try. The try is unconverted. 5-0 to Dale.

Helensville kick off to our 22 and we kick it back into touch at halfway. Play then remains midfield, and whilst Helensville get their share of possession, their backs passing lets them down on several occasions. We work towards their line and after two set pieces we pass the ball through the backline for Ali Cargo to score on the left wing corner. Its unconverted. 10-0 to Dale.

Helensville kick off to our 22 again and we retain the ball well and work back to half way. Our backs passing looks sharp as we work towards the edges and gaps start opening up. This leads to Ali Caro’s second try, this time on the right wing. The kick goes over. 17-0 to Dale.

It’s a repeat kick off from Helensville, but this time they gather it and work into our 22. They get isolated and Taylor Norwood gets awarded the free kick for a turn over. We then managed to get back down the other end of the field and possession see-saws between the teams. Helensville scrum well but again their backs hands let them down. Some good carries from our forwards at their line put Helensville under pressure and later we send it out the backline for Rowan Cole to jog across the try line. Its unconverted. 22-0 to Dale, only five minutes left in the half.

Helensville manage a period of error-free rugby and are rewarded with a try from the AR after the referee initially called held-up. The try is unconverted. 22-5 to Dale at the half time break.

We kick off into the wind and force an error for Helensville resulting in a scrum. We attack their line multiple times and Thomas Murray-Edwards finds a gap when running off the back of a maul to cross the line. Its unconverted. 27-5 to Dale.

At the kick off we knock the ball on and Helensville take advantage of this to get into our 22. They keep attacking our line, but our defence is strong and accurate and they can’t penetrate through. But persistence prevails for Helensville and they spread the ball across field and bust over our try line. Its converted and now 27-12 to Dale, but Helensville have their backs up now and the crowd jeer them on.

We kick off deep and Helensville clear to the 10m line. We lose the line out and Helensville get all the way back into our 22. We manage to work our way back down to the other end of the field and into their 22 zone. Play progresses to midfield where both teams have a crack at each other. A play at the halfback during a ruck sees Shaun Neilsen with a yellow card. With 14 men on the park our shape is lost a bit, but true Dale defence continues and we battle through. Some good tackling from Bailey Gordon at 12 upsets Helensville and Ali Cargo gets a break with some clear air in front of him at halfway and boots the ball well down field before they catch him. Helensville infringe the kicker running through and we get a penalty. Taylor Norwood steps up at 40m out from the posts and nails a beauty. 30-12 to Dale.

At the restart we knock on the ball and Helensville run off the back of their scrum and work it towards our line until Max Hutchings upsets their party. We exit nicely to halfway and attack midfield, but not releasing the ball gives possession back to Helensville. They keep attacking inside our 22 but we hold them out for the few remaining minutes. Final score 30-12 to Silverdale.

Shun Noriya was our Player of the Day with his big tackles when we needed it and strong carries. Caleb Smythe was a close second with his massive defence. In the backline Bailey Gordon defended well in the 2nd half and Ali Cargo’s two tries assisted our score line. This coming week we have our first home game against Takapuna. See you there.

Article added: Tuesday 01 April 2025