Nelson survive St Bedes scare
Only a slightly astray conversion attempt has kept Nelson College’s winning run in the Crusaders Championship alive.
The visiting St Bedes side scored a try with time up on the clock to give themselves a chance to salvage a draw in Nelson this afternoon.
However, Mason Allison’s admirable attempt went across the face of the uprights as Nelson survived with a scrappy 14-12 victory.
A bloodied Ollie Inch says his heart was in his mouth as he watched the kick creep closer to the sticks.
“We certainly made it hard for ourselves,” the Nelson skipper says.
“We were lucky to come away with the points, we are going to have to be better than that if we want to win this competition.”
Ollie says poor discipline cost Nelson dearly.
“We gave away ten penalties in that second half, that’s not our type of rugby so we will take a lot of learnings from that.”
After a blistering start, Nelson was starved of possession and territory in the second half and invited St Bedes back into the game with a number of errors.
“We put ourselves under a lot of pressure and just didn’t build those phases.”
Nelson welcomed back its most powerful weapon from injury in the form of Fijian flanker Netani Baleisomosomo.
It was a mixed return for Netani who scored Nelson’s only two tries but was also sent to the bin for a no arms tackle.
A healthy crowd greeted the sides, and it wasn’t long before they had something to cheer about.
Strong carries by both Cooper Grant and Jacob Neha-Manihera set the hosts hot on attack with Netani powering his way over the line for the opening points.
It was all Nelson early on and they looked to be in again when a superb cross from Grant, bounced favourably for Tuterangi Stone-Williams who set Nelesoni Malaulau away only to be called back for a foot in touch.
More chances went begging soon after, with Nelson spilling the ball over the line and Reegan Lawton getting held up.
Netani made no such mistake as he again proved too powerful close to the chalk with Nelson taking a 14-0 lead.
He went from hero to villain moments later, sent to the bin right on the stroke of halftime but Nelson survived to keep the visitors scoreless at the break.
St Bedes was unable to capitalise on the one-man advantage and Netani returned to the field with no damage inflicted.
St Bedes slowly worked its way into the contest and finally cracked the Nelson defence 55th minute through flanker Tanner Stowers-Smith.
Allison’s sharp conversion brought his side within seven.
Nelson struggled to regain its rhythm after a number of lengthy injury breaks.
The intensity led to several heated exchanges between the young players.
After a herculean effort, lock Hunter Leppien was assisted from the field with Nelson under immense pressure.
Starved of possession and camped on its own line, Nelson conceded another penalty with time up on the clock.
St Bedes opted to tap quickly, and winger Cameron Rawlings found himself in space on the left flank to dive in the corner.
The crowd collectively held its breath as Allison struck the ball sweetly, but his effort was ultimately flagged away to the relief of an exhausted Nelson side.
Scorers:
Nelson 14 (Baleisomosomo 2, tries, Lawton 2 cons)
St Bedes 12 (Stowers-Smith, Rawson, tries, Allison 1 cons)