Coastal top of table after round three

Coastal has surged to the top of Taranaki’s premier club rugby competition after a dramatic third week in the championship round.

The team’s 40-33 victory over Inglewood at TET Stadium was Coastal’s third win in the competition, leaving them with 15 points.

The promotion to the top was also helped by defending champions New Plymouth Old Boys’ 31-31 draw with Southern in Hāwera.

It was the first time Old Boys had not won a match since 2022.

At TET Stadium, the second half was marred by uncontested scrums.

Two Inglewood props went down injured after 47 minutes, and with no replacements it was the only option.

Until that point Coastal had the edge up front, which included a penalty try to level the scores after 20 minutes.

With the scores locked up at 19-all at the break, both teams offered plenty around the park.

Again, Rhodes Featherstone and Josh Jacomb provided the physicality and awareness needed to break into Coastal’s half.

Coastal wing Kusi Drauna looked dangerous throughout the game with his side-stepping ability and speed out wide. He was complemented by new fullback Hone Mathieson.

Coastal got out to a 33-19 lead halfway through the second half.

Inglewood came back to draw level again, thanks to a classy try to Jacomb and Featherstone.

With only a few minutes remaining, centre Jackson Sinclair spotted a hole to score untouched and clinch the win for Coastal.

In Hāwera, Southern and Old Boys wrestled back and forth with the lead changing several times before the game ended in the first draw of the season.

Southern looked strong and eventually had a 24-14 lead in the second spell. But Old Boys clawed their way back with two tries and a penalty try to lead 28-24.

Southern edged ahead with a try, but

Old Boys’ Brayton Northcott-hill kicked a penalty to level the scores with just over 10 minutes remaining.

In other matches, Brendon Coupe was the hero for Stratford-eltham after scoring well after 80 minutes to beat Tukapa 27-24 at Victoria Park in Stratford.

It came after a relentless period during which Stratford-eltham were pounding at the line but remained patient in the buildup to secure their second win of the season.

Earlier, it was Tukapa’s game to lose as they played an exciting brand of rugby to lead 24-10 at halftime.

Vereniki Tikoisolome showed off his speed on his wing, scoring two tries coming off the bench for Stratford-eltham.

Clifton was too strong for Spotswood United, winning 52-7 at Tikorangi. They also welcomed back Chiefs midfielder Daniel Rona for the first time this season.

In the first round of the women’s competition, defending champions Southern beat the Coastal-okaiawa combined team by 85-12 and Clifton thrashed Tukapa, a new team, by 95-0.

Points after three weeks: Coastal 15;

NPOB 11; Inglewood 10; Stratford-eltham 10; Southern 7; Clifton 5; Tukapa 1; Spotswood United 1.