Last year’s Nelson club rugby finalists both crashed to heavy defeats as the new season kicked off today.
Defending champions Kahurangi had 12 players on debut and, after a promising start, were overwhelmed 43-15 at Sports Park, Motueka.
Central fared even worse at Trafalgar Park, going down 56-14 to Marist.
Playing behind a dominant pack, Wil Thornally capitalised with three tries for the home side.
It was much closer at Greenmeadows where Stoke held off Nelson 29-24.
Both sides scored four tries and Nelson camped inside Stoke’s 22 for the last 10 minutes, seeking the match winner.
In the last play of the game, the much improved Nelson side was penalised at scrum time on the hosts' goal line.
A feature of the match was the appearance of U20 Crusaders star Eli Oudenryn for Stoke.
He was involved in the first two tries before a rib problem forced him from the field.
