Swifts 6-4 Tauranga Boys’

Recap

Matamata Swifts 6-4 Tauranga Boys’

The 2017 Loaded WaiBOP Premiership season began with a bang for Matamata Swifts as they traded ten goals with Tauranga Boys’ College at the Domain on Saturday.

Thankfully the Swifts ran out 6-4 victors, although coach Paul Richardson and his players will be a little disappointed the win wasn’t far more emphatic.

Goals from Chris Walker, Bjorn Vossen and Dayne Willemsen saw Matamata into a 3-1 half time lead, before Walker and Willemsen struck again, either side of a Brad West goal to stretch the margin to 6-2.

The students, however, looked sharp on the break and a couple of goals in the final quarter gave the final scoreline a quite remarkable look. With the game all but decided the Swifts became sloppy out of possession and rather let their opponents off the hook in what really should have been a right old hammering.

Richardson focused on the positive elements of his team’s performance. “Our attacking play looked great at times, and we probably should have had a few more goals. Obviously we’re not pleased to have let in four, though, so we have a bit of work to do on our defensive transitions.”