Old Boys University have got their 2018 Jubilee Cup campaign off to a flying start, beating Hutt Old Boys Marist 40-22 at the Hutt Rec.
It’s a similar scoreline to the 48-16 win that the Billy Goats recorded over the Eagles in the Swindale Shield competition earlier this season and asserts OBU’s position as a front-runner for this year’s Jubilee Cup.
Hutt started the game in positive style, having possession for much of the opening 10 minutes but OBU only needed a sniff to open the scoring as Greg Mullany put Izzy Foai through to score untouched.
The Eagles responded through wing Jerome Harimate and again scored with the impressive Anthony Utanga dotting down in the left corner 26 minutes in.
One of the standout performers of the match, Te Wehi Wright, then scored his first try of the match after he snatched up an errant Eagles offload and, with the reliable boot of Greg Mullany, who kicked 8/8 goals, OBU headed into the break up 20-12.
Teams exchanged three-pointers in a slow opening 20 minutes of the second half though OBU flanker Cody Quin took advantage of HOBM’s yellow card and set the game alight with a break down the left, finding Wright on his inside for the wing’s second of the day.
The sin-binned Fereti Soloa did his best to make up for his 10 in the bin by scoring for Hutt shortly after his arrival back onto the park but a further penalty goal and Matt Fowler try meant OBU would leave the Hutt with a hard-earned bonus-point win.
Next up for the Goats is Marist St Pat’s, who went down to Norths 35-22 on Saturday. That game is on Saturday 23 July at 2.45 at Nairnville Park.