An unlikely figure helped nail Pioneer’s 31-17 win against Albion-Excelsior at Newman Park in a senior pool rugby match in Gore on Saturday.
Pioneer’s replacement hooker, Troy Wyatt, beat four players on his way to take the match beyond reach.
Wyatt, a former winger, recalled his past skills when he was provided with space out wide.
“The ball I received was a great pass in good space.
“I just had to capitalise on that space the inside backs had provided me .. ” Wyatt said.
He was excited to see the impact he and fellow bench players made towards the end of the match.
Pioneer stand-in coach Eugene O’Neill said it was good to have a local derby to start the season off. The match was a good confidence-booster.
“We ground them down in the forwards a bit in the first half and in the second there were a few more gaps in the backs,” he said.
A few more of the passes stuck, too.
“We’ll take the win by all means. They are a good attacking side.
“We still have plenty to work on.”
Pioneer plays Riverton in its second-round match this Saturday.
