Mid Canterbury Combined’s Alex Roderick crashes over for the side’s only try against Shirley Boys’ High. Photo Robyn HoodA second half surge by Shirley Boys’ helped overpower Mid Canterbury Combined during their UC Championship clash in Ashburton at the weekend.

The Christchurch school ran out 43-7 winners after scoring 26 unanswered points in the second spell, as their big boys proceeded to dominate the physical battle.

“We ended up again letting the floodgates open to a very big and hard-hitting team,” head coach Shane Enright said in his post-match assessment.

Combined, backing up from an impressive performance against St Andrews a week earlier, were competitive in several areas, particularly at scrum time.

The team scrambled well on defence in the first half, and were immersed at the breakdown as they were able to operate with plenty of front foot ball.

However the home team struggled to go with Shirley as the game wore on, as the visitors found another gear to run in seven tries in the game, which was again played behind closed doors.

Again the team’s playing stocks were tested with Alex Barnaby, Sam Ree and Cade Whittaker unavailable for selection due to injury.

Shirley drew first blood after seven minutes, when halfback Sam Nicholls scored in the corner following a breakout from about halfway.

The lead extended to 10-0 when first five Jordan Soli broke the last line of defence in midfield, following a string of penalties and a concerted period on attack.

Mid Canterbury Combined however is a markedly improved outfit compared to earlier in the season, and were rewarded with a try after Michael Hennings went blind from an attacking position to send an inside ball to Alex Roderick, who dived over near the left-hand upright.

At 10-7, the battle for field position ensued, again an indication of the gains Combined have made by forcing the opposition into a more circumspect mode in attack.

Shirley’s set piece clicked into gear as halftime approached when they rumbled over from a lineout drive, making it 17-7 at halftime after the referee mistakenly went beyond the allotted 35 minute mark.

Combined continued to frustrate Shirley early in the second spell, often going on the charge through the middle of the visitors.

However Shirley went to their bench as they utilised their size advantage.

Replacement prop Jayden Horgan barged over as Combined struggled to keep the towering frontrower in check, and the gap opened up between the two sides.

“We were very much in the game, but the second half was a different story with them bringing their strong runners into play,” Enright said.

“The quick ball they produced, spinning it wide again caused us issues and allowed them some simple tries.”

With the game slipping away, unforced errors began to creep in to Combined’s game as Shirley intensified the pressure around the breakdown.

Openside Brodie Barsby’s try for Shirley effectively killed the game off as the visitors streaked out to 31-7.

The Mid Cantabrians were not without opportunities, however were unable to finish.

Classy Shirley centre Ethan Faitua notched up a spectacular second half double – the first following a clever chip in behind the defenders and a superb ranging run from lock Fin Ocheduszko-Brown before receiving the inside ball, and his second was a blazing 40-metre breakaway, as he outpaced Combined’s weary cover defence right in the shadows of full time.

“We were beaten by a better team, but we are learning and having a look at the squad,” Enright said.

“The silver lining this week was the chance to blood three more under-16 players.”

It gets no easier for the Spartans this weekend as they face the competition’s second-placed Christchurch Boys’ High in Christchurch.

By Adam Burns © The Ashburton Guardian - 25 August 2020