SPORT REPORTS
RUGBY
The HG Leach & Co Thames Valley Senior A Mens club rugby season began with four very close results. Only three points separated two games as Te Aroha Cobras beat Hauraki North 8-5 while Thames pipped Mercury Bay 19-16. Only six points difference as Waihou travelled to Whangamata to win 19-13.
In the friendly neighbours match Waihi Athletic beat Paeroa 22-10. At Beach Hop Whangamata the rain closed in on an even contest. Waihou camped in the Whangamata zone early on and scored the first try after eleven minutes. Whangamata slowly got into their disciplined and patterned style of play and replied with a converted try for a 7-7 score line. Waihou’s Adam Ratcliffe and Whangamata’s TJ Wise exchanged penalties for a 10-10 half time score. Light drizzle became steady rain as the weather made conditions slippery in the second forty minutes.
Waihou snatched the final lineout of the day deep into their half to frustrate Whangamata in the final minute. No more tries in this match as three Waihou penalties and only one to Whangamata gave Waihou the win. Results Whangamata 13 v Waihou 19,, Thames 19 v Mercury Bay 16, Te Aroha Cobras 8 v Hauraki North 5: Paeroa 10 v Waihi Athletic 22. This Easter Saturday 30 March no club rugby matches are scheduled.
Tennis
Whangamata’s oldest business house event- The Mckillop Cup celebrated it’s 40th Anniversary on Monday Night with the crowning of this years winners at a pot luck dinner.
As usual the Whangamata Club Business House tennis comp started last year and after a break at Christmas concluded just before Easter.
The winners this year were 40 Love, equal 2nd were Semi Pro and Kiss My ace and just half a point back in 3rd were The Seasiders. On hand to both compete and acknowledge their grand father were the Mckillop Grandchildren Jake and Eli.