Moerewa Kawakawa retain Bay title

FROM PAGE 24

of this decade and this clash from the penultimate round of the sub union competition at Awanui on Saturday afternoon was no exception.

The third time the two sides had faced off this season (the first being called off following a serious player injury with Awanui narrowly winning the second at Awanui), it was another fast-paced and intensely contested affair where neither faction was prepared to give a quarter.

But it was the Mangonui champions who had the wood on their archrivals at the end of the day to even the ledger.

Eastern were leading 23-9 late in the match before Awanui scored a converted try as consolation. Awanui manager Jordan Jujnovich believed the result had been there for the taking.

“Tight game. Eastern had a really good gameplan, had a really good team, they came to play,” he said, adding the loss hadn’t come about “for lack of trying” by the home side boys.

“Everyone was putting in the effort. We had the opportunities but the rugby gods just didn’t want us to score tries today,” he said. Standouts included flanker Sean Windleborn Rawiri, No 8 Frank Roberts and halfback Jamie Brown.

Eastern coach Dave Jurlina felt the turning point came late in the first half where, following a spell of sustained pressure, the visitors backline countered lethally to score a well put together try.

“First half hour we weren’t really in the game. Key to the win? Training for all season, we are just coming together at the right time,” he said, before noting this “wasn’t a vintage performance” from either side: “A lot of unforced errors by both sides. We dominated the scrums, they dominated the lineouts.”

Tries for Brandon Jurlina, Shay Carey and wing Anthony Rogers (overall POTD) with Leon Emery kicking a conversion and two penalties.

Kaitaia 47 Panguru 17 (HT 22-5): Kaitaia emerged as comfortable winners at Arnold Rae Park on Saturday and manager Clayton Murray said everyone was pleased to see Panguru front in force.

“. . . seems like every team is doing the same when they play us this year. Was a good exhibition from the Kaitaia boys, sticking to our structure and getting the job done. Full credit to the Panguru boys, a few new faces there and if they stick around then they are going to be the team to watch out for!”

Kaitaia try scorers included Walter Lee Pomare 2, Gary Dunmore 2, Raniera Taniwha, Keanu Cook-Savage (and 2 conversions along with the back POTD award), Daniel Tikitiki and Duke Fraser Fraser (also forward POTD).

Panguru’s Mike Te Wake admitted the visitors had seriously considered defaulting for the first time in three seasons last Thursday before a call to arms saw the side arriving with a respectable contingent of 22 players.

“Beautiful rugby conditions. Kaitaia backline were just too classy, they just went out wide, had the wheels on the outside,” he said, before adding with a laugh, “No one was looking to mess with our forwards.”

Standouts were lock Joseph Peita and captain, and centre Siua Veutoko. Te Wake, meanwhile, is off to Christchurch this week to coach the Northland rugby team at the area schools nationals.

■ STANDINGS (unconfirmed): Eastern 1, Awanui 2, Kaitaia 3, Panguru 4, Te Rarawa 5.