Selwyn Times: July 04, 2018

SELWYN TIMES Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi
Wednesday July 4 2018 29
Big future expected
Proud supporters of
Rugby & Netball in Selwyn
for promising Lincoln University first-five
• By Gordon Findlater
RAMEKA POIHIPI became the
latest Lincoln University player
to turn out for the Crusaders
after a surprise call-up to play
the French Barbarians.
Poihipi, 19, moved south to
Christchurch last year after
standout seasons playing at firstfive
for Hamilton Boys’ High
School in 2015 and 2016 which
saw him heralded as one of the
most promising players coming
out of secondary school.
“A big part of the decision was
to be able to both study and play
rugby . . . it’s obviously a really
successful university that has
had some great players come
through,” said Poihipi.
After playing predominantly at
colts level for Lincoln University
last year, he has stepped up
this season and become a key
component of the Hawkins Cup
side. Poihipi was also the leading
CLUB DUTIES: Rameka Poihipi hopes to win the metro club
title with Lincoln University.
PHOTO: TONY BRUNT
scorer during the cup campaign
with 122 points.
That form saw him called
into the Crusaders for a couple
of training sessions where he
made enough of an impression
to make his debut at second-five
for the team against the French
Barbarians on June 15, before
heading to Perth to play the
Western Force.
“I was really surprised . . . I’d
been training with them for
a couple of sessions and just
assumed I was there to make
up numbers, so I was really
honoured when I found out I
was going to be playing,” said
Poihipi.
“It was surreal. You see all
these guys on TV and next
minute you’re rubbing shoulders
with them and being welcomed
into their environment with
open arms.”
On Saturday Poihipi returned
to club duties, playing at firstfive
for Lincoln University in
their 30-15 win over University
to move to the top of Hawkins
Trophy table with just two
rounds remaining before the
semi-finals. However, he only
lasted 30min after suffering a
knee injury.
You only need to look 12
month’s back from that club
final to see the odds of Poihipi
going onto bigger things are in
his favour. The 2016 Lincoln
University team that won
the metro final against New
Brighton consisted of a backline
made up of Jordie Barrett,
Caleb Makene, Jack Goodhue,
Harrison Groundwater, Josh
McKay, Brett Cameron and Ere
Enari.
Since then Barrett and
Goodhue have both gone onto
represent the All Blacks. McKay,
Enari and Cameron have all
played at Super Rugby level,
while Makene and Groundwater
have both played Mitre 10 Cup.
Poihipi also has genetics on his
side. His father – also Rameka
Poihipi – played 61 games at
halfback for the Bay of Plenty
Steamers between 1994 and
2002.
For now Poihipi says he’s
remaining grounded with his
eye on a club title before pushing
his case for game time with
Canterbury in the Mitre 10 Cup.
Another come-from-behind
victory in Hawkins Trophy
TRY SCORER: Lincoln University
winger Caleb Makene, seen
her playing for the Crusaders,
scored a momentum-building
try as his team downed
University 30-15 on Saturday.
PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES
• By Jim Doyle
LINCOLN University pulled off
another come-from-behind win
on Saturday, beating University
30-15 at Ilam in the third round
of section play for the Hawkins
Trophy premier metro rugby
championship.
The UC Vipers sank the fangs
into the Rams twice in the first
half of this intriguing contest,
and led 15-12 at half-time.
The Rams did have a bit of
luck. Two of the tries came
from intercepts, a third from a
charged-down clearing kick.
Lincoln’s first try, just 4min
into the game, was the best of
the match.
From set play – a scrum –
George Stratton smacked into
his marker from second-five,
in spite of the ferocity of the
impact, Stratton off-loaded to
Connor Garden-Bachop, who
had come across from the right
wing.
There was a groan from the
bench as Garden-Bachop, with
Caleb Makene outside him, took
the ball into heavy contact, but
Garden-Bachop rode a double
tackle and slipped the ball away
to Makene, who scored in the
corner.
The second-best try was scored
by University’s Brayden Ennor,
who hit a short pass at full tilt
from 45m out and had the pace
to go all the way.
The clash between Ennor and
Lincoln’s Ngane Punivai, back
from New Zealand under-20
duties, shaped as a beauty. But
Ennor was taken off at half-time
and Punivai finally succumbed
to a leg knock later.
That brought George Stratton
back after a very short substitution
break.
Stratton continued to amaze.
He hurled himself into the fray
on attack and defence, no matter
how large the obstacle in front
of him. No 7 Connor Gordon
was in similar form as a human
dynamo and won the top accolade
from the coaches, just ahead
of the abrasive, non-stop John
Borland.
University gave it a good shot
for a fair chunk of the match.
With players like Ennor and
Seamus Bardoul in midfield,
plus captain Sam Godwin in
the No 6 jersey, the Vipers
can’t be taken lightly. No 8
Matthew Letoga scored a good
try as part of a useful all-round
performance.
There was some concern for
the Rams when Rameka Poihipi
was carried off with a knee
injury at the 30min mark.
Support staff seem more sure
this time that Brett Cameron
will be ready on Saturday when
the Rams take on New Brighton
at home.
Scorers: Lincoln University 30
(Caleb Makene, Connor Garden-
Bachop, Jesse Houston 2, tries;
Sam Gilbert 2 conv, 2 pen) beat
University 15 (Matthew Letoga,
Brayden Ennor tries, Fergus
Burke conv; Seamus Bardoul
pen). HT: 12-15.
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