Players from five different clubs scored tries as Country beat Town 40-31 to win bragging rights again in their annual free-flowing fixture.
Country was bolstered by having Wanderers players in its ranks this year.
Town opened the scoring in Tapawera through Waimea Old Boys No. 8 Filipe Tupou after a clearing kick was charged down.
Country responded with tries from Huia wing Kiti Vainga, when they worked a blindside move from a lineout drive, and centre Josh Kelly who found space close to the line.
Town levelled at 12-all in the 26th minute, when Marist fullback Soni Lama linked with Waimea wing Josh Wairau out wide.
But then Country ran in three consecutive tries to burst clear 33-12.
Wanderers’ fullback Billy Powick sent Murchison speed merchant Dan Hawley away for the first, Billy then scored himself after an offload from clubmate and first five Marty Swart, and Collingwood second five Josh Roberts stepped the Town defence for the third.
Marist front rower Mike Chadwick led the fightback from short range and was promptly subbed off.
At 38, Mike reckons he was probably the oldest player on the field.
However, Country hit straight back through Tākaka flanker and vice-captain Chris Oakden, with his brother Riley adding the conversion to push the score to 40-19.
An overlap was converted by Nelson reserve back Daniel Lefale, and after tough goal line resistance saw two Country players sinbinned, Marist second five and co-captain Lone Lama crossed for Town’s fifth try in the final minute.
It was like a home game for Country captain and Murchison flanker Ben Marr, from Springs Junction.
“It was still an hour and 40 minutes to get to Tapawera. Perfect, and it was special playing here as Tapawera didn’t have a team this year,” says Ben.
“It was a really enjoyable game, played in good spirit and relatively cleanly. There’s still only one name on that cup.”
The Town Country clash was a first for South African-born Marty Swart who moved to the region a year ago.
The 34-year-old Wanderers playmaker subbed on and kicked two booming conversions as well as setting up a try.
“It was bloody awesome, especially in the surroundings of Tapawera. Town came back but Country did what Country boys do and dug deep. When I was growing up, I was usually in the Town squad,” declares the former Canterbury and North Harbour player.
His clubmate Josh Kelly, who stood out with his incisive running and tigerish defence, relished the win too after injuries left Wanderers underpowered during the Div 2 campaign.
“I broke my finger halfway through the club season, so it was good to be winning today with a bunch of people that haven’t been together that long. It is a real country thing,” says Josh.
After constantly travelling to compete in softball at a high level, the former pitcher reckons it was like a home game, playing in Tapawera.
