Round 1 - 13/04/2002 

Vs Ponsonby Ponies @ Colin Maiden No.2

Score:	3 - 17
HT:	0 - 14

The first five minutes saw the Cougars looking solid, marching from inside their 22 to the Ponies
22 through good forward play. Unfortunately the Cougars turned over the ball and the Ponies
capitalised through pace up the right wing and some lacklustre defence from the Cougars left
winger Robert Macredie, who clearly should have stayed outside his man. The try was converted
taking the Ponies out to a 7-point lead early in the game.

Once again, the cougars had the upper hand thanks to some great forward work in the scrums, along
with excellent lineout work, notably from Ben Molloy at lock securing countless balls against
the throw. Despite this, the Cougars struggled to get inside the opposition 22 for some time.
After several darting runs from the likes of Gareth Rivelland and Macredie up the left, a great
set move saw the ball get out to Robert, on the left wing, with space. Robert had two men to
beat, but failed to show the pace that was required and was held up over the line. Injuries to
both Simon (head) and Gareth (head) saw early Cougar substitutions made.

Nearing the end of the first half, and against the run of play, the Ponies found pace up the
right, and despite a copybook tackle from Matthew Muir at fullback, the Ponies winger had
momentum to carry him across the line for a 5-pointer. The conversion was slotted taking the
Ponies out to a 14-Nil lead at half time.

The second half saw several more substitutions made to the Cougars line-up, hoping to capitalise
and score early points. A little niggle early in the second half saw one of the Ponies
red-carded, which resulted in both teams picking up the defence a notch or two. The penalty was
missed by Muir, so the goal kicking duties were handed to Michael Gascoigne for the rest of the
match. However, with the Ponies down to 14 men, the Cougars saw their opportunity. 

From outside the opposition 22 and 15 in from the left sideline, the Ponies infringed, giving the
Cougars a chance to add pressure. With 20 minutes to go, they opted for the kick at goal,
despite cries from the sideline to go for the lineout. Gascoigne caught the left upright but the
ball kicked right and through, taking the score to 3 - 14 in favour of the Ponies.

The Ponies almost scored a third, but thanks to some outstanding defence by the Cougars camped on
their line, notable a try saving tackle from the substitute second-five Nicholas Hawkins, they
were denied. The Cougars cleared their line through a series of kicks for touch, and lineout
wins against the throw, to relieve some of the pressure.

Ten minutes before full time, the Ponies were penalised and marched 10, taking the Cougars within
10 metres of the opposition's line. With ball-in-hand, No.8 Richard Pusinelli scampered to the
mark to take a quick tap. Nine times out of ten you would back him to dot it down, which he did
after stepping two, and barging through two more. It wasn't the Cougars day, as the referee
denied Pusinelli the try, saying he was held up over the line. That try would have secured an
invaluable bonus point for the Cougars.