Matty’s On the Five: Blues win top of table clash, Warriors suffer fourth loss and Samoan UFC fighter claims stunning KO

We’re back again after another intense weekend of sports! There was a lot going on, namely, my Warriors lost their fourth straight match - but anyways, let’s get stuck in.

1. Blues win top of the table clash against Hurricanes

Things are heating up in the Super Rugby Pacific competition, as the two top teams went to battle at the weekend with the Blues beating the Hurricanes 31-27 at Eden Park.

It was perfect conditions for this intense clash in front of nearly 26,000 fans at Eden Park, as the Blues sported their heritage jersey reminiscent of their 1990s home kit. The Blues hit first with Bryce Heem scooping to score following a lineout fivemeters out from the Hurricanes’ line.

The Canes hit back soon after, with Brad Shields powering over. Despite a yellow card to Akira Ioane, the Blues were able to keep on the pressure and score another try on the right edge. But some intense attack from the Hurricanes before halftime was rewarded, as winger Joe Morby exposed an overlap, scoring in the right corner.

Hurricanes flanker Peter Lakai powered over early in the second half to score, with the crowd roaring in the background. Tries were scored back and forth between the two sides, with the scores locked at 28-27 with 10 to go.

Harry Plummer booted over a penalty in the 76th minute to put the Blues ahead by four, and after a number of attempts by the Canes at breaking through the Blues line - Sam Nock ripped the ball and kicked it out, to win the game for the Blues.

2. Black Ferns thrash USA in Hamilton

The Black Ferns returned to the international stage in emphatic fashion, thrashing the USA Eagles 57-5 in Hamilton. The home side ran in ten tries cruising to the win at FMG Stadium.

The Ferns looked clinical in their first match in the Pacific Four tournament, which consists of New Zealand, USA, Canada and Australia. The Ferns scored in the opening two minutes of the match, with Katelyn Vahaakolo breaking down the left edge, and two eventual offloads leading to Amy Du Plessis crossing over under the sticks.

Fullback Mererangi Paul scored almost immediately after their first try, and it would be one of her three tries scored in the Ferns thrashing. Fun fact: Paul was also a professional netballer for the Northern Mystics, and debuted against USA for the Black Ferns last year!

Katelyn Vahaakolo also put on a slick performance running straight through the USA defence to score her second.

Maama Mo’onia Vaipulu, Ruby Tui, Layla Sae and Patricia Maliepo all ran in tries for the side, completing a dominant performance for the Black Ferns, as they began their 2024 campaign.

3. Carlos Ulberg wins performance of the night at UFC St Louis

UFC Light Heavyweight contender Carlos Ulberg continues to etch his name as one of the most dangerous fighters in the division, after a 12 second KO to Alonzo Meinfield for his sixth straight win.

Ulberg featured in the UFC Fight Night St Louis card yesterday, and after the emphatic KO win, he collected performance of the night - winning a staggering $50,000 USD ($83,000 NZD) for the win.

Ulberg fights out of the City Kickboxing Gym, the home of elite fighters Israel Adesanya, Kai Kara-France, Alexander Volkanovoski, Tyson Pedro to name a few.

After the win, Ulberg moved closer to the top 10 rankings in the Light Heavyweight division - and in his post fight interview, he was quick to call out other fighters promising to “destroy” whoever gets in his way.

4. Warriors lose their fourth straight match

Many of us New Zealand Warriors fans are feeling the slump on Monday after watching another upsetting loss to the Sydney Roosters on the weekend 38-18.

It’s the Warriors’ fourth straight loss, their last positive result was from their draw against the Manly Sea Eagles five weeks ago. And unfortunately the boys couldn’t get it done against a firing Roosters side.

The Roosters ran in 22 points in the opening 12 minutes, capitalising on a struggling Warriors’ defence. The Warriors couldn’t find any form in the first half, unable to bend the Roosters defence and find a way through.

The Roosters scored first in the second half, with Daniel Tupou receiving a clinical cross-field kick to score on the left edge. The Warriors stand-in winger Edward Kosi then scored the Warriors’ first try on the left edge.

Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad and Addin Fonua-Blake also scored two tries to give the Warriors hope - but Sam Walker from the Roosters put the nail in the coffin, sealing the win for the Roosters.

Next week the Warriors face the reigning premiers Penrith Panthers, and hopefully, things can turn around for the side. Up the Wahs!

5. Moana Pasifika lose at Mt Smart

Moana Pasifika were unsuccessful in their return to Go Media Stadium, going down to the Chiefs 43-7. Its Moana’s third straight-loss, going down to a firing Chiefs side.

The game was tightly contested in the first half, with both sides not letting up on both ends of the pitch. Quinn Tupaea powered through three Moana defenders close to the line, scoring the Chiefs’ first.

Moana were struck with two yellow cards in less than ten minutes, the second made way for the Chiefs to score their second going into the break 12-0.

The Chiefs were quick to score in the second half, with lightning fast Etene Nanai-Seturo cruising through the Moana defense to score a runaway try. Moana would concede another two tries before Anthony Tuitavuki broke past the Chiefs line and to score their first.

But the away side would not let up - scoring two more tries before the final whistle.

Matty’s Golden Point

Matty’s Golden Point is a point of advice shared every week on his segment 'Overtime with Matty' on the Pacific Grandstand Show on 531pi.

“Sometimes you have to accept that a guy played better on the day than you”

- Roger Federer