Late surge lifts H-K to narrow win
‘‘It was a real big win for us, and it gets the monkey off the back: if you don't get a win in the first game it can be a problem for a province like ours.’’
It was an intense, nerve-wracking game of high-level rugby on Saturday. And then there was the All Blacks’ game.
Heartland rugby kicked off for Horowhenua-Kapiti at the Levin Domain on the weekend with a last-gasp win over North Otago to start the season in winning style.
H-K was 11 points down - 19-8 - with only seven minutes left on the clock: some in the crowd at the Domain were already leaving.
Speaking after his team’s eventual 22-19 victory, H-K coach Chris Wilton said North Otago must be wondering ‘how did we lose that one?’.
‘‘I think we have a good culture in the team, and a belief, and really good feeling. I think that counts when things get tough.’’
He said his team, with eight debutants, scored two tries over the last few minutes - the first from a 5-metre scrum, which lifted the team spirit.
‘‘Then we got a penalty in the last two minutes and we managed to kick for touch and got a lineout in their 22. It was a bit of upbeat tempo going into it, and a bit of a feeling of ‘gee we’re here again, and if we score a try we can take the game’.’’
H-K won the ball from the lineout and crossed the line to take the match.
‘‘It was a real big win for us, and it gets the monkey off the back: if you don’t get a win in the first game it can be a problem for a province like ours.’’
Wilton said while the backline did not have a perfect game, when things did go well they players were able to capitalise.
He said fullback James So’oialo had a ‘‘fantastic’’ kicking game.
Looking ahead to how H-K would play this season, Wilton said the province had traditionally prided itself on its forward pack.
‘‘For us we just want to play some good structured rugby, with a good, sound set piece, and be exciting when we can.’’
This season the team included loan players So’oialo, Kalim Kelemete, Andrew McDougall, and player of origin Robin Praat.
So’oialo, Kelemete and centre Ethan Pollock were the try scorers on Saturday.
Wilton said there was more than one tight game of rugby on Saturday, joking that this included the All Blacks match, which could be considered the ‘‘second best’’.
H-K play Poverty Bay in Gisborne on Saturday. The Bay come off a 34-5 loss to Mid Canterbury.