Pena And Mazuchelli Propel Club Newman To Narrow Victory Over Petone

Swindale Shield Premier | 04 March 2017 | Club Rugby

Petone narrowly lost a gripping encounter with Buenos Aries’ Club Newman at North Park today, after leaping to a 14 point lead early in the second half.

 

Leading by 26-12 with 20 minutes to play, it looked for all money that the home side had done enough to inflict defeat on the Argentinian tourists who struggled with ill-discipline for much of the match.

 

Playing into a strengthening northerly breeze which swept dust-devils across the ground, the URBA Top 14 side were first to score, when left wing Jose Pena sprinted into a gap following a line-out maul inside Petone’s 22 metre zone, for the first of his two tries of the afternoon. Club Newman struggled with the blustery conditions with kicking and handling errors upsetting their attacking rhythm at key moments.

 

Petone’s Willie Fine was next to score, following a 30 metre break and off-load by left wing Aleks Noble-Campbell. Noble-Campbell, back following a season off with injury, was next to score under the posts, with the Carne Green conversion giving Petone a narrow 12-7 lead at the half-time break.

 

Playing into the northerly in the second spell, Petone’s Ta’amilo Va’a scored a bustling try following a sniping run by half-back Logan Henry who played with pace and vision throughout the game. Green again converted. A tip tackle by Club Newman No. 8, Ricardo Bicu, which resulted in a yellow card, provided the opportunity for his opposite number Sosaia Tufui to score. Suddenly, Petone had a 14 point lead, mid-way through the half.

 

However, whatever lessons were dealt out to Club Newman playing into the wind, were clearly well learned, as they scored three unanswered tries (one converted) in the next 15 minutes. Clever tactical kicking by first-five Florencio Llerena, who otherwise had a mixed day, created territorial advantage from which the Argentinian’s set piece was able to score tries by hooker Fecundo Brandi and right wing German Mignone.

 

With Petone holding a narrow two point lead with 5 minutes to play, replacement wing Marco Mazzuchelli received the ball with a two on one overlap sending the buoyant Club Newman supporters and the Argentinan Ambassdor into a paroxysm of celebration, as Mazuchelli scored to win the game.

 

Petone, who were missing a number of players owing to unavailability or injury, will be pleased with their performance, with front-rowers George Ta’eiloa and Marcus Roil showing promising early season form. Club Newman now travel to Auckland to play Grammar TEC before beginning their Argentina Club Championship campaign for 2017.  

 

Club Newman, 29: Tries – Jose Pena (2), German Mignone, Fecundo Brandi, Marco Mazzuchelli. Florencio Llerena, 2 conversions.

 

Petone, 26: Tries – Willie Fine, Aleks Noble-Campbell, Ta’amilo Va’a, Sosaia Tufui. Carne Green, 3 Conversions.

 

Half-Time: Petone 12, Club Newman 7.