Toko upsets Heriot; win for Crescent

Toko surprised everyone — except perhaps itself — with a fantastic 30›26 win over Heriot in an energetic Southern Region game in Milton on Saturday.

Ill›discipline by Heriot and a nice try to Toko No 8 Josh Beer›Williams gave the home side a 16›0 lead midway through the first half.

Heriot fought its way back to 16›14 by the halftime interval.

Toko managed to take the ascendancy in the match with second›half tries to lock Liam Kingma and flanker Jerrym Frost before Heriot finished with a flourish.

Toko defended strongly for the final stages to claim a confidence›boosting win and the Speight’s Jug.

The Toko players took the fight to Heriot, and their aggression at the breakdown and in the tackle was frightening at times.

Crescent retained the Greg Smith Memorial Trophy with a hard›fought 27›24 win over Owaka in Kaitangata.

Crescent’s win was built on a dominant first half, where it made the most of possession coughed up by Owaka.

The home side led 15›3 at halftime.

Crescent scored two quick tries in the second half to extend the lead before Owaka started to fight its way back into the match.

Once Owaka had momentum, it was very difficult to stop, and it scored two late tries to close the gap, but it was too little, too late.

For Crescent, midfielder Jackson Cook had a strong game, carrying well and making plenty of space for his outsides.

Owaka was led well by halfback Lochie Hannah, who had a strong game on attack and defence.

Clutha Valley retained the McIntosh Cup and the Holmes Milk Can with a tight 20›16 win over West Taieri in Clydevale.

A try in each half from loose forward Damian Wilson and some accurate kicking off the tee by Thomas Johnson was the difference for the home side in a vastly improved effort from last weekend.

Valley, which led 13›10 at the break, was far more organised on attack, and its loose forwards were dominant at the breakdown.

Johnson and fullback Brayden Wilson kicked intelligently to keep West Taieri pegged back.

West Taieri first five Callum Smeaton had another fantastic outing, scoring all his side’s points and directing play well.

Clutha put on a scoring clinic in the last 20 minutes to beat Lawrence 62›3 in front of a large home crowd in Balclutha.

Clutha had the run of the match for the first half, but Lawrence’s defence was gallant and hard to break down.

Leading 15›3 at halftime, Clutha showed all its attacking brilliance in the second half, scoring seven tries.

Winger Robin Fesilafai scored three tries for Clutha and was exceptionally dangerous with ball in hand.