Kees Muller impressed for the King Country Emerging Big Horns.
After a spluttering start to their defence of the Lochore Cup the King Country Rams burst back into contention with an emphatic seven try winning performance against a committed Poverty Bay side at Taupo last Saturday.
With their forwards laying a great platform the young stars in the back line were given every opportunity to express their boundless talent and the result was some great running rugby.
There were few better on the paddock than Patrick Hedley with a personal tally of 22 points playing on the left wing, scoring two tries and nailing all but one conversion with his accurate boot.
This rising star is on loan from Hawke’s Bay and King Country supporters will be hoping that side suffers no injuries which require him to be called back.
Playing on the opposite wing Baven Brown Jnr was another who shone with one huge run back from a kick off gathered deep in his own half splitting the Bay defence leading to Hedley’s second try.
And it was Brown who scored the final try with his trademark side stepping ability and genuine pace leaving many defenders in his wake as he raced away down the embankment side.
Number eight Caleb Foote was another local player to the fore with his general play and strong carries complimenting a tidy lineout display while his loose forward partners Maximus Dunstar and Levison Gower were never far from the ball.
Piopio’s Isaac Griffin was injected into the pack at lock after the half time break and impressed with some huge carries of the ball and is proving to be a great addition to the squad.
As impressive as the Rams were on attack the coaches will probably be dissecting some defensive lapses especially early in the game as the visitors went toe to toe early on and half way through the first half the scores were locked at 21 a piece.
Earlier in the day the King Country Emerging Big Horns found the Waikato Divisional side a difficult proposition eventually losing by 46–19 on a difficult afternoon.
The side was bolstered somewhat with the inclusion of Rico Bell and Callum Hedley from the Rams but in the end a dominant forward pack proved too hard to overcome.
Young Kees Muller caught the eye with some great line out work complimenting his general play although playing at lock would have seen him in unfamiliar territory.
Liam Knight and Jayden Pari also enjoyed honest performances and continue to develop in a higher grade.
In other results the King Country Under 18 side defeated a Hawke’ Bay schools team 55-12 where by all accounts young Wiremu Harris was outstanding at hooker and Riddick Rangitonga also caught the eye.
The King Country secondary school girls were too powerful for Taranaki U18 girls, winning 32– 5 while the U16 boys lost to Waikato Pasifika 46–23.
