GANELLEN BLUES U20S BAG 11 TRIES IN DYNAMIC DISPLAY

The Ganellen Blues Under-20s finished the Bunnings Warehouse Super Rugby Aotearoa Under 20s tournament in Taupo on a high note.

They ran in 11 tries in a superb performance to beat the Hurricanes 71-15 to finish the tournament with two wins and one loss at Owen Delaney Park.

Coach Steven Bates said the team enjoyed the experience and opportunity with three tough games in six days.

“The boys learned a lot about what it takes to play, recover and then front up again and produce quality rugby,” Steven said.

“They also learned and understood with more clarity about the areas that we need to control in the game to give us the opportunity to win.”

He was delighted with the performance in the final game against a strong Hurricanes outfit, with a dominant display.

Like the team had been in all three games, the set piece was outstanding at scrum and line out on both sides of the ball throughout the week.

The Ganellen Blues made their mark early with six first-half tries to lead 38-8 at halftime and added a further five tries in the second hard with winner Sofai Maka picking up a hat-trick of tries, two for second-five Corey Evans, and other tries to Soane Vikena, Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepens, Sage Shaw-Tait, Josh Beehre, Manu Paea and Ray Su’a.

Jock McKenzie added seven conversions with one to Christian Stenhouse to complete the scoring.

Evans was the team’s player of the day with an outstanding display both in defence and on attack.