Thames Valley came down the highway to Te Kūiti on Saturday for their match against the King Country Rams and left with an unblemished Heartland Championship record courtesy of a dominant victory. It was an historic occasion as the local ground hosted the first ever first-class match under the recently installed floodlights which saw a large crowd create a great atmosphere especially from the packed-out grandstand. It was also King Country’s first defence of The Bill Osborne Trophy dubbed The Heartland Ranfurly Shield. With intermittent rain and a slushy field this was a great example of old-fashioned wet weather rugby and as can be expected forward dominance proved to be the catalyst for overall success. The Valley Swamp Foxes appeared to relish conditions and began the match in a positive fashion and applied all the early pressure, but it was the home side who posted first points and led 6–0 after 20 minutes. Fullback Patrick Hedley, who enjoyed a wonderful 100 percent kicking record, slotted two excellent penalty goals as The Rams enjoyed brief appearances in The Valley half. In the 28th minute former King Country player Alex Thrupp scored arguably the try of the match when he latched onto a loose ball in his own half and showed tremendous pace to race away down the embankment touchline to score. Hedley soon slotted a third penalty to put the Rams back in front 9 – 5 but The Valley pack was looking ominously dominant by now and it was no surprise when their skipper Matt Axten crashed over under the bar gifting Fletcher Morgan an easy conversion. Up by 12–9 Valley, began the second half as they finished the first and Morgan extended the lead with a penalty before Hedley slotted two more of his own and with 20 minutes to go the scores were locked at 15–15. From here The Swamp Foxes forward pack took complete control, winning crucial scrums and lineouts and, as The Rams discipline slipped, gained good field position from penalties and it was no surprise when the powerful Laulea Mau crossed for a well worked try. Replacement Quinn Collard then put the issue beyond doubt with a long-range penalty kick before Hedley earned his team a bonus point with a penalty goal with time up on the clock. In a beaten pack Rams prop Toby Tukaki enjoyed a fine game and featured in broken play while number eight Caleb Foote was as usual in the thick of everything. Zac Wickham-Darlington and Baven Brown Jnr, although receiving limited attacking opportunities, both looked sharp and went looking for work, the former’s battle with the speedy Thrupp was memorable. Fullback Hedley was the star Rams player who complimented his goal kicking excellence with sound defence and an eye for counter attacking opportunities when they presented and was my MVP from either side. Earlier in the day Thames Valley emerging players proved too strong for the Bighorns 37 – 19 and both the Under 16 and Under 18’s won their respective encounters. The Valley men returned home with all the silverware and an unbeaten record in Heartland Rugby while The Rams slipped from four to seventh on the table and face a daunting task travelling to the South Island this week to play the champion South Canterbury on their home patch. • King Country product Josh Balme, who plays for Hamilton Marist, made his Waikato debut in the 39-21 NPC win over Auckland last Saturday.Thames Valley came down the highway to Te Kūiti on Saturday for their match against the King Country Rams and left with an unblemished Heartland Championship record courtesy of a dominant victory.
It was an historic occasion as the local ground hosted the first ever first-class match under the recently installed floodlights which saw a large crowd create a great atmosphere especially from the packed-out grandstand.
It was also King Country’s first defence of The Bill Osborne Trophy dubbed The Heartland Ranfurly Shield.
With intermittent rain and a slushy field this was a great example of old-fashioned wet weather rugby and as can be expected forward dominance proved to be the catalyst for overall success.
The Valley Swamp Foxes appeared to relish conditions and began the match in a positive fashion and applied all the early pressure, but it was the home side who posted first points and led 6–0 after 20 minutes.
Fullback Patrick Hedley, who enjoyed a wonderful 100 percent kicking record, slotted two excellent penalty goals as The Rams enjoyed brief appearances in The Valley half.
In the 28th minute former King Country player Alex Thrupp scored arguably the try of the match when he latched onto a loose ball in his own half and showed tremendous pace to race away down the embankment touchline to score.
Hedley soon slotted a third penalty to put the Rams back in front 9 – 5 but The Valley pack was looking ominously dominant by now and it was no surprise when their skipper Matt Axten crashed over under the bar gifting Fletcher Morgan an easy conversion.
Up by 12–9 Valley, began the second half as they finished the first and Morgan extended the lead with a penalty before Hedley slotted two more of his own and with 20 minutes to go the scores were locked at 15–15.
From here The Swamp Foxes forward pack took complete control, winning crucial scrums and lineouts and, as The Rams discipline slipped, gained good field position from penalties and it was no surprise when the powerful Laulea Mau crossed for a well worked try.
Replacement Quinn Collard then put the issue beyond doubt with a long-range penalty kick before Hedley earned his team a bonus point with a penalty goal with time up on the clock.
In a beaten pack Rams prop Toby Tukaki enjoyed a fine game and featured in broken play while number eight Caleb Foote was as usual in the thick of everything.
Zac Wickham-Darlington and Baven Brown Jnr, although receiving limited attacking opportunities, both looked sharp and went looking for work, the former’s battle with the speedy Thrupp was memorable.
Fullback Hedley was the star Rams player who complimented his goal kicking excellence with sound defence and an eye for counter attacking opportunities when they presented and was my MVP from either side.
Earlier in the day Thames Valley emerging players proved too strong for the Bighorns 37 – 19 and both the Under 16 and Under 18’s won their respective encounters.
The Valley men returned home with all the silverware and an unbeaten record in Heartland Rugby while The Rams slipped from four to seventh on the table and face a daunting task travelling to the South Island this week to play the champion South Canterbury on their home patch.
• King Country product Josh Balme, who plays for Hamilton Marist, made his Waikato debut in the 39-21 NPC win over Auckland last Saturday.
