Stingrays off to commanding start   1 Sep 2014

New Zealand Rugby League

Pirtek NZRL National Premiership - Stingrays off to commanding start


After a belated start to the 2014 Pirtek NZRL National Premiership, Counties Manukau Stingrays showed they will again be a force, with a season-opening 46-6 romp over Northern Swords in Whangarei.

The South Aucklanders went unbeaten through last regular season, only to stumble against Akarana Falcons in the title game.

While everyone else kicked off their campaigns last week, the Stingrays sat idle with the first-up bye, but rocketed from the starting blocks for a 28-0 halftime advantage against their northern rivals.

Eight different players eventually crossed for tries, with only second row Eko Malu able to double up.

Teenage five-eighth Daniel Fulop provided the hosts' only response, with a second-half try.

Meanwhile, Canterbury Bulls are the only team with two wins from the first two rounds, overpowering Wai-Coa-Bay Stallions 38-20 on the road in Huntly.

The guests were quickly on top with three converted tries in the opening half, but the Stallions stayed in contention, when the halftime hooter malfunctioned and the home side scored on an extra tackle.

But there was no switch in momentum and the Bulls scored the next three tries to put their rivals away.

Bulls front rowers Manu Weepu and Chris Bamford had two tries apiece, while winger Isaac Robinson matched that feat for the Stallions.

Defending champions Akarana enjoyed the bye and could be back to full strength next week, with the Fox Memorial club final played yesterday.

PIRTEK NZRL NATIONAL PREMIERSHIP

Sunday, August 31

Toll Stadium, Whangarei

Counties Manukau Stingrays 46 (Eko Malu 2, George Edwards, Ray Taimale, Atelea Nafetalai, Zebastian Luisi, Paul Tapaevalu, Pakisonasi Afu & Sione Feao tries; Taimale 4 & Paulos Latu goals)Northern Swords 6 (Daniel Fulop try; Joel Freeman goal); HT: 28-0

Swords: 1-Tumoana Halkyard, 2-Sharif Mangu, 3-Israel Tahere, 4-Moses Cooper, 5-Rikki Tarau, 6-Daniel Fulop, 7-Sam Henry, 8-Chris Apoua, 9-Joel Freeman (capt), 10-Jordan Hool, 17-Alex Salase, 12-Patrick Tane, 18-Te Tuhi Tipene, 14-Adam Donaldson, 15-Elliot Pomare, 16-A Lennox, 17-K Harding

Stingrays: 1-George Edwards, 2-Raymond Taimale, 3-Atelea Nafetalai, 4-Paulos Latu, 5-Filipine Jacob Aki, 6-Zebastian Luisi, 7-Carlos Hotene, 8-Palu Tapaevalu, 9-Jethro Friend, 10-Pakisonasi Afu, 11-Dion Snell, 12-Sione Feao, 13-Jamal Hunt, 14-Eko Malu, 15-J Price, 16-L Feagaiga, 17-T Aoake

Referee - Eric Kneepkens Touch - Tane Kaiwai & Grant Wharehuka

Davies Park, Huntly

Canterbury Bulls 38 (Manu Weepu 2, Chris Bamford 2, Ken Tofilau, Toi Sepulani & Corey Lawrie tries; Darren Tonihi 4 & Cyrus Tomo Latu goals) Wai-Coa-Bay Stallions 20 (Isaac Robinson 2, Caleb Heke & Mounga Molisi tries; Hayden Karena 2 goals); HT: 18-10

Stallions: 1-Caleb Heke, 2-Mounga Molisi, 3-Hamiora Mihaka, 4-John Koko, 5-Isaac Robinson, 6-Johnson Peri, 7-Hayden Karena (capt), 8-Hone Love-Henry, 9-Raureti Grace, 10-Callin Tereu, 11-Terry Kopua, 14-Cody King, 12-Jason Whareaitu, 17-Riki Collier, 16-Mosese Mafi, 15-Tupare Tupare, 13-Marrin Haggie

Bulls: 1-Ken Tofilau, 2-Will Tafua, 3-Erwin Sauni, 4-Vinnie Paul, 5-Jade Hoy, 6-Toi Sepuloni, 7-Darren Tonihi, 8-Paul Sauni, 9-Maun Weepu, 10-Chris Bamford, 11-JJ Smith, 12-Corey Lawrie, 13-Agaese Fiso, 14-Alani Kakoi, 15-Kyle Leka, 16-Paradise Mann, 17-Cyrus Timo Latu

Referee - Tony Arnel Touch - Tai Hepi & Gina TeRongomau

 

ends

Add a comment

News

Hilary Timmins' Award-Winning UK Documentary Series To Inspire NZ Students

29 Jun 2020 Education
Dream Catchers, produced and directed by Hilary Timmins, celebrates the success stories of more than thirty inspirational New... more

New Zealand reaffirms support for Flight MH17 judicial process

7 Mar 2020 News By Rt HON WINSTON PETERS
Ahead of the start of the criminal trial in the Netherlands on 9 March, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has reaffirmed the need to... more

Business

NZ Government's Economic package to fight COVID-19

17 Mar 2020 Business News By RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
The Coalition Government has launched the most significant peace-time economic plan in modern New Zealand history to cushion the... more

NZ Government announces aviation relief package

19 Mar 2020 Business News By Hon Phil Twyford
Transport Minister Phil Twyford today outlined the first tranche of the $600 million aviation sector relief package announced earlier... more

Living

Diversity was Key at New Zealand Trade Tasting in London

6 Jun 2022 Food & Wine
New Zealand Winegrowers Annual Trade Tasting was recently held in London, on Wednesday 4 May, in Lindley Hall. It was the first... more

Kiwi author stuns Behind the Butterfly Gate

12 Jan 2022 Arts By Charlotte Everett
Hidden behind the Butterfly Gate is where the secret has been kept for 76 years...  New Zealand writer Merryn Corcoran’s... more

Property

Fairer rules for tenants and landlords

17 Nov 2019 Property By Minister Kris Faafoi
17 NOVEMBER 2019 The Government has delivered on its promise to the over one million New Zealanders who now rent to make it fairer... more

New Zealand Government will not implement a Capital Gains Tax

17 Apr 2019 Property By RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
The Coalition Government will not proceed with the Tax Working Group’s recommendation for a capital gains tax, Jacinda Ardern... more

Migration

Boosting border security with electronic travel authority – now over 500,000 issued

19 Nov 2019 Migration By Hon Iain Lees-Galloway
19 NOVEMBER 2019 We’ve improved border security with the NZeTA, New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority, which helps us to... more

Christchurch reinstated as refugee settlement location

18 Aug 2018 Migration
18 AUGUST 2018 HON IAIN LEES-GALLOWAY The announcement that Christchurch can once again be a settlement location for refugees... more

Travel

Gallipoli Anzac Day services cancelled

19 Mar 2020 Travel & Tourism By RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
The New Zealand and Australian Governments have announced this year’s joint Anzac Day services at Gallipoli will be cancelled... more

New Zealanders advised not to travel overseas

19 Mar 2020 Travel & Tourism
New Zealanders advised not to travel overseas more

Sport

The Skipper's Diary: Sir Richard Hadlee honouring his father and NZ's Forty-Niners

27 Oct 2019 Cricket By Charlotte Everett
NZNewsUK London Editor Charlotte Everett spoke to Sir Richard Hadlee about why he’s chosen to publish his father’s... more

PREVIEW: All Blacks v England semi-final

26 Oct 2019 Rugby
The two most convincing quarterfinals winners are set to square off in a semifinal showdown for the ages when the All Blacks meet old... more

Columns

Gordon Campbell on the Gareth Morgan crusade

11 Nov 2016 Opinion
Gordon Campbell on the Gareth Morgan crusade First published on Werewolf The ghastly likes of Marine Le Pen in France and Geert ... more

Gordon Campbell on the US election outcome

10 Nov 2016 Opinion
Column - Gordon Campbell   Gordon Campbell on the US election outcome Well um.. on the bright side, there (probably)... more

Kiwi Success

Congratulations to Loder Cup winner

26 Sep 2018 People By Hon Eugenie Sage
25 SEPTEMBER 2018 The Loder Cup, one of New Zealand’s oldest conservation awards, has been awarded to Robert McGowan for 2018... more

Appointments to New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO

16 Aug 2018 Appointments
16 AUGUST 2018Appointments to New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO HON JENNY SALESA Associate Education Minister Jenny Salesa is... more

Recruitment

Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers

14 Aug 2018 Recruitment By RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
14 AUGUST 2018Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers RT HON JACINDA ARDERN HON CHRIS HIPKINS Prime Minister The... more

Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers

22 Aug 2018 Recruitment By RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
14 AUGUST 2018Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers RT HON JACINDA ARDERN HON CHRIS HIPKINS Prime Minister The... more