Silverdale Prems vs Takapuna Prems: 13-50

This week we had our first home game in very hot conditions in front of a good crowd.

Takapuna kicked off and our exit kick landed in touch on the full. Taka drive a line out to our try line and after several phases we manage to hold them up on the line under advantage. Taka kick for touch around the 5m line and with a strong lineout and drive they get over to score the first try in the game. Its unconverted. 5-0 to Takapuna.

Our kick off goes long and we have the first scrum of the game at half way. It holds well and Taka pass the ball wide, then coming in field to result in a knock on. We win our scrum and kick deep for territory. Taka run it at us but we manage to turn the ball over in their half and run a backline move followed by some set pods at them. They hold well and they try  the same on us before getting off-side. We clear and get near their 22 until we lose one of our line outs. Taka make another mistake and we kick into their 22 on the opposite side of the field. Taka run the ball to both edges and we make the tackles required until a no-arms tackle gives them a penalty. They kick to touch around our 22. We get the ball back and exit with a long kick which gets run back at to us. We are now back where we were a few minutes ago! Taka continue to go wide and run at us, but equally our tackles are made and we knock them into touch on our line. Great Dale defence! We exit and get down into their half until Taka win a breakdown ruck and come back into our half of the field. We manage to get the ball back and a long cross kick from Matt Renal finds space on the right wing and into Tom Taula’s hands to glide over the try line for our first points. The try is converted. 7-5 to Silverdale.

We receive the kick off and bang the ball deep into their half. Taka run it back at us and we respond well and force their error. Our scrum is strong and we exit to half way. The next period sees Taka keeping a firm position inside our half. We get some possession and are rewarded with a penalty kick at around 53m out. Taylor Norwood is keen and puts his hand up to take the kick at this distance. He gets the distance but narrowly misses wide after a good connection. A Taka error in their 22 sees us put some pressure on Taka, but a straying lineout throw lets them off. Soon we get to repeat this, but this time Taka get the ball from the lineout and run it back at us. Shortly after we receive a penalty from a Taka error and this time Taylor Norwood nails the kick. 10-5 to Dale and this brings us to the half time.

We kick off for the 2nd half and Taka run it at us and break a couple of tackles to get near our 22, before they knock the ball on. We win our scrum and exit nicely into their half until they run back at us again and break more tackles. Same result though, they knock it on! We run out of our half this time with some good carries from forwards Dan Goodfellow and Caleb Smythe. We get an exit kick short which Taka gather and run through a gap to score under our posts. Its converted and Takapuna take the lead at 12-10.

Taka receive our kick off well and follow up with a deep kick into our half. But Matt Renall makes a quick return, slicing through gaps and putting us onto the front foot. A miss kick on the wing gives the ball back to Taka and soon we see ourselves back in our half. Possession and territory goes both ways for the next period and we get our opportunity inside their half off a penalty. The kick from Taylor Norwood is good and we are back in the lead at 13-12.

Taka respond well getting into our 22 and making multiple attacks at our line. Eventually they get across our line under the posts and the score is turned around to 19-13 to Takapuna.

We kick off deep and force Taka’s exit kick which is touched by us before going into the sideline. Taka work to the far edge until the play opens up and they score under the posts. Its converted. 26-13 to Takapuna.

We kick off deep again, but Taka run wide to both sides and a couple of missed tackles lets them in again. This time its unconverted. 31-13 to Takapuna.

We kick off shorter and gather the ball. A good run wide gets us some forward momentum, but a 50/50 ball goes against us and we turn the ball over. The next phases are even between the teams, until Taka get some go-forward ball and battle into our 22 & a loose ruck play sees them take a gap and score. It’s converted. 38-13 to Takapuna with 10 minutes to go.

We try the shorter kick off again but Taka gather the ball and exit into our half, they get some luck and a good chip kick finds hands into open space and they score again out wide and its converted. 45-13 to Takapuna.

Our short kick off works in our favour again but our error shortly after turns over the ball. Taka get the rub of the whistle and kick deep into our half with a free kick. This is backed up with a good maul off the lineout and three phases later they score again. Its unconverted.

We knock-on from our kick off, but its followed up with a dominant scrum. Some back and forth from each team sees the game to the final whistle. A disappointing ending to a game that we could have owned. A few simple mistakes and getting some injuries to put a couple of players playing out of position turned the game around, not on our favour.

Our player of the day went to Ali Cargo for consistency in his ball catching, handling, running and kicking. An all over effort which solidified our backline. Also notable mention to Matt Renall for his quick thinking and running breaks to help turn the flow of momentum around. Blake Forward is mastering the craft of drone pilot while injured and doing a great job as Webby’s assistant.

This weekend we are back at home against Northcote. This will be our opportunity to make amends for last weekend and put it behind us. See you there.

Article added: Tuesday 08 April 2025