RUGBY

Every win matters in condensed club rugby competition

Te Puke Sports premiers made a winning start to the shortened Western Bay of Plenty rugby competition that kicked off on Saturday. The standalone Western Bay Premier and Development title races see the eight sides get just one shot at each of their opponents before the playoffs.

The cut-throat nature of the competitions means every encounter is a must-win match, with the contenders reduced to four after the seven rounds.

Te Puke Sports hosted arch-rivals Mount Maunganui at Murray Salt Stadium.

The home side opened the scoring with a Dan Hollinshead penalty after 10 minutes.

Six minutes later, Cole Forbes touched down for Te Puke Sports’ sole try after making a break then kicking through, regathering and sliding across the line in the wet conditions. Hollinshead’s conversion gave the hosts a 10-0 lead.

Te Puke Sports fullback Cole Forbes about to regather his own kick through to score Te Puke’s only try in the 16-8 win over Mount Maunganui.

A Mount Maunganui penalty at the halfway stage of the first spell resulted in Te Puke leading by seven

at halftime.

Twenty minutes in the second half, the Mount narrowed the gap with an

unconverted try.

Hollinshead slotted a drop goal and a second penalty to keep his side just out of reach.

Dan Hollinshead was adjudged Te Puke Sports’ Player of the Day.

The win meant the home side retained the Western Bay Challenge prize, the Jordan Cup, and won the Simpson Cup, which is played for between the two clubs.

Across at Centennial Park, Rangiuru were beaten 17-12 by Greerton Marist. Rangiuru’s two tries were scored by Regan Ware and Alexis Detsis with Detsis converting one.

In last Saturday’s development games, Mount Maunganui beat Te Puke Sports 20-17 and Rangiuru lost to Greerton Marist 17-14.

This Saturday Rangiuru are away to Mount Maunganui while Te Puke Sports make the short trip to Arataki. Development games start at 1pm and premiers at 2.45pm.

Rangiuru’s title-defending women’s team didn’t get to start their 2020 campaign when first round opponents Ngongotaha¯ pulled out of the Baywide Women’s competition, creating a bye.

On Sunday Rangiuru will travel to Mount Maunganui for a game kicking off at 1pm.

In the Western Bay of Plenty Senior Reserves competition on Saturday, Eastern Districts will host Tauranga Sports reserves at 1pm with Pa¯ pa¯ moa travelling to Te Puna for a 1.30pm kick off.

● See page 14 for more photos.