Greymouth Greyhound Hatrick Sinks Tigers

The Greymouth Greyhound, Nikolas Cumming, had a blinder for Herbert Smith Freehills HKU Sandy Bay scoring 3 tries, carrying his side to a 29-24 victory over USRC Tigers in the final round of the Saxo Capital Markets Premiership Challenge Trophy.

With seven players unavailable due to international duties, the Bay marched on and crept up the ladder from 5th to 3rd with this hard-fought win at King's Park.

Ashton Hyde finished a classic forward-lead effort after GG's opening try that brought the scores level. Cumming then scored two second half tries that were almost identical , with each requiring a long kick and chase from the highly energised Kiwi outside half. With the scores locked at 24-24 with 8 minutes remaining, an alert Rodrigo Castanheira athletically pounced on a charge down to seal the match with a game breaking try.

Excerpt from www.hkrugby.com

Tigers and Sandy Bay played the most entertaining match of the day at Kings Park with Tigers leading 21-14 at half-time. Lock duo Liam Edwards and Calvin Hunter powered more than the scrum for Tigers, with each scoring tries to give the hosts a 14-0 lead after the first quarter.

Sandy Bay struck back through fullback Nikolas Cumming whose try put Sandy Bay on the board before half-time, with a second score coming ten minutes later. Jack Metters converted both to level the score, 14-all.

Tigers captain Sam Purvis put his side on his back to score the go-ahead try, converted by Michael Moloney, shortly before half time with the hosts taking a 21-14 lead into the locker room.

Cumming came up big down the stretch with back to back tries to open the second half and give Sandy Bay it’s first lead, 24-21.

Moloney struck a penalty after 53 minutes to draw even inside the last five minutes, but pacey Macanese winger Rodrigo Castanheira came up as the hero with a late Sandy Bay try to sneak the 29-24 win.