Sport
WEDNESDAY 2 May 2012
Wanderer’s Rugby Club
25
Wanderers remain unbeaten
FAMILY FUED: Taylor’s Contracting Wanderers halfback Jackson Harvey will tackle his brother Loui Harvey when Galbraith Group Nelson come to town on Saturday. Photo: Phillip Rollo.
Brothers set for showdown Phillip Rollo The first time brothers Jackson and Loui Harvey played against each other they were cheered on by more than 5000 people at the Botanics, re-enacting New Zealand’s first ever game of rugby. This weekend the Harveys get another chance to go toe-to-toe when the two form teams in the Car Company division one, Taylor’s Contracting Wanderers and Galbraith Group Nelson, meet for the first time in five years. Jackson has emerged as one of the key exponents in Wanderers’ currently unbeaten campaign, playing a pivotal role on the pitch and on the score sheet. Still at Nelson College, Jackson opted to play in the Car Company division one competition so he could get game-time in the number nine jersey but has gone from strength to strength in his first year at senior level. But marking Jackson at the Brightwater Domain will be a very familiar face – his older brother Loui. Loui has been an ever-present figure in the Nelson starting XV ever since
he finished school and will be doing everything in his power to make sure the formidable Nelson line-up take maximum points from their first trip past the Brightwater Bridge. Nelson will be well-rested following Saturday’s bye, while Wanderers come into the match having played three times in seven days. Both teams will be out to take control at the top of the table, but bragging rights at the dinner table will be a side note to the four competition points the winning team will collect. “It will be a good test for me; testing myself against my brother,” says Jackson. “If we can get up against Nelson in our first season back then we’ll be stoked.” But Loui, who trains with his younger brother, was watching the game on Saturday and is clearly aware of what Jackson can do on the rugby field. “I’ll be going out all guns blazing because I have to make sure I’m still top dog,” says Loui. Saturday’s match kicks off at 3pm at the Brightwater Domain, as early form suggests, both teams could face each other a lot more in the latter parts of the seasons.
Wanderers head into this weekend’s heavyweight clash with Nelson ready to have some fun. Taylor’s Contracting Wanderers’ division one side are undefeated after five rounds this season, after entering a team in the top flight for the first time since 2008. The club’s defending champion division two team is also unbeaten, as is its division three side. Manager Frazer Lochhead says the club’s top team is excited and ready for the challenge of a “very slick” Nelson team, which is also unbeaten heading into this weekend. “We’ve got our 20 competition points in the bank so will go out on Saturday and have a bit of fun.” The game, held at the club’s Brightwater fortress from 3pm, will provide a great measuring stick for Wanderers which battled to a hard-fought victory over Huia in Motueka on Saturday. Wary of Huia’s sharp and penetrative backs, Wanderers’ plan was to simply deny them possession as their forwards assumed more prominence in a dominant second-half performance. Wanderers led just 8-7 at the break, wing
Riley Johnston crossing for Wanderers while Huia were awarded the first penalty try of the season after a player was taken high close to the line. Halfback Jackson Harvey’s normally reliable boot was astray this week, forcing Jesse Pitman into the kicking role, the first five-eighth obliging with a first-half penalty success. A second-half try to number 8 Loa Windley gave Wanderers enough breathing space to just keep Huia out of reach, a penalty success to first five-eighth Jesse Rush providing Huia’s only second-half points as they struggled to get their hands on the ball. Lock Damien Powick and flanker Callum Rogers were introduced to Wanderers’ pack and seamlessly joined the flow, with a well-functioning lineout also a critical part of Wanderers’ dominant effort. The Wanderers division two side also played Huia in Motueka and – like its senior squad – secured a tough-fought win to remain unbeaten this year. This weekend it will also play at home, hosting Nelson’s division two side with kickoff at 1.15pm.
Wanderers division two player Matt Keeble bursts through the Huia defence during his sides win on Saturday. Photo: Tim King.
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