Whiti Te Ra takes out Uni Hunters
touch downs would have put them back ahead.
Realising that one more try would seal their final, Whiti did just that with 10 minutes remaining when Eriha atoned for his sinbin by spotting a gap near the line and going over for his side’s one and only converted try in the game.
This put the score at 26-16 and although the Hunters regathered some lost momentum when some fine offensive bursts, it crucially gave away possession from unforced errors near the line inside the last 10 minutes, which allowed Whiti to expertly slow the play down at both the scrums and around the play the ball zone.
The Hunters put the final points of the final right on fulltime when a beautifully weighted Hollis chip resulted in his right centre Psalms Latu going over for an unconverted try seconds before the hooter was sounded.
By that stage it was too little, too late and for the Hunters a sad way to end their 50th anniversary season since their club was first established, along with the careers of two of its finest long serving servants in utility players Micky O’Brien and Jamal Tamaiva.
Although defeated, O’Brien was nevertheless proud of his side’s brave competitive effort in the game.
“It just came down to being down too much at halftime that put us under huge pressure, but in saying that we never gave up and kept trying right to the end.”
University coach Kilgour also believed his side lacked execution at vital times.
“We had our chances, but just gave away the ball at crucial times when we needed to just stay focused and play out the full sets of tackles.”
Whiti Te Ra captain Tanira Cooper believed the win was a testament to the character his side has built up over the past several years.
“There were few words given before the start of the game as we all knew that if we were to win it, it would come to discipline and concentration,” he said.
Mania Osborne’s vision and tactical play on the field resulted in him being awarded Man of the Match, while his brother Atawhai Osborne, Kahura Cameron and Dane Cooper were also solid Whiti Te Ra players. University prop Junior Filo was a tower of strength for the Hunters with a big workload of crunching tackles, while centre Lui Afamasaga and dynamo Hollis also kept the Hunters in the game with some fine play.
Whiti Te Ra 26 (Henare Manning, Aaron Whitikia, Mat Faiumu, Mania Osborne, Tanira Cooper, Toddy Eriha tries; Aaron Taiapa goal), Victoria University Hunters 22 (Vili Rawalai, Psalms Latu, Mike Hollis tries; Mike Hollis 2 penalties, goal, Tamaiva goal); Halftime: Whiti Te Ra 20-6.