Waimea Old Boys B player Tim Cross looks to get his fend working during Waimea's 24-7 win over Wanderers at Brightwater Domain on Saturday. Photo: Evan Barnes Shuttersport.

Waimea B show glimpses of brilliance

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Waimea Old Boys senior B captain Tim Fensom believes that in his decade in the team, the 2017 edition has plenty of potential to be title contenders.

The comment came after a bruising, if not underwhelming, 24-7 win with Wanderers at Brightwater on Saturday.

On paper, the game had plenty of spice after former WOB coach Wayne Bateman left for Wanderers and took some of his players with him in the offseason.

What transpired was a threatening but impatient Waimea Old Boys team showing too much flair for a resolute Wanderers team which did not offer enough in attack.

Tim was one of those men who may have switched clubs but in the end, playing with mates and the jersey he has represented for a long time won out.

“I had to stay where my heart is and even though I live out this way, I wanted to play with my mates.

“It’s bloody physical but you expect that sort of encounter between these two teams.

WOB were hammered in the penalty count but only conceded one try from a five metre scrum late in the match when they were down to 14 men.

The visitors scored four tries of their own but were guilty of not showing patience with ball in hand and had many attacking raids snuffed out by a relentless Wanderers pack that worked hard at the breakdown and had dominance at scrum time.

“I thought the defensive effort was really good,” Tim says.

“It comes down to want and working hard for the guy next to you and I thought we did that really well today.

“We have the potential to be really good if we learn to hold the ball more and don’t put so much pressure on our defensive line.’’

WOB coach Scott McKenzie says he wanted his team to be more patient.

“The offloads were good all game but we need to build pressure and not try to offload from our own goal line.

“The boys tackled their hearts out, it was outstanding.”

Waimea Old Boys senior As also beat their Wanderers counterparts 39-28.

There will be two senior A fixtures over the Easter with Kahurangi coming to Jubilee Park on Thursday night at 7pm.

Stoke host WOB at Nayland College on Easter Monday at 3pm.