Local teams pay tribute to the fallen
Te Rarawa 17 Awanui 62: Round 4 of the North Zone senior club rugby championship kicked off with this well-attended night game on Friday at Ahipara.
Awanui coach Paul Scutt was reluctant to describe proceedings as one way traffic although in hindsight, the margin of the result was never really in doubt.
He just felt the hosts were competitive enough in the first half keeping the ball well, but the cracks were eventually exposed by the quality of the visiting team’s backline.
“Just got into our rhythms, first game we really got our partnerships going,” Scutt said, adding he felt several players in the team were showing the rewards from training for the national 7s championship earlier in the year.
Standouts included fullback Matt Tuatagaloa with three tries, No.8 Sean Rawiri Windleborn leading the forwards, Jone Macilai again with his Super Rugby experience to the fore, “Was gold for us,” a couple of youngbloods, George Steed at lock, and hooker Josh Batty in his first senior game, along with veteran prop Tony Paopao.
“It was a great evening of rugby, the vibe out at Ahipara was mean as,” he said, adding Kaitaia by comparison was dead when the team passed through later that night.
Rarawa coach Thomas Rogers felt the score wasn’t reflective of what was otherwise a good game, the difference being Awanui's’s back line featuring the likes of quicksilvers Macilai and Tuatagaloa.
“We managed to grab a late try,” he said, adding it was a great evening at the club.
Rogers standouts were his forwards including prop Benson Manga, No.8 Sonny Rupapera, and No.7 Dan Pure. Notable in the backs were midfeilders Ra Thomson and Sean Rawiri, and fullback Logan Morrogh (picked by Awanui as the homeside’s standout player).
Before kick off, a minute’s silence was held in memory of Reno Leef, a longstanding friend and colleague for many there, many of whom would have played against or alongside him back in the day.
Eastern United 29 Kaitaia 5: The other Mangonui derby saw Eastern romp out to record the predicted big win on home soil.
Eastern coach Dave Jurlina said Saturday must of been one of the hottest days of the season, it was simply Kaitaia’s bad luck to come up against a full strength homeside keen to get its campaign back on track following two consecutive losses.
“We were keen to get some competition points on the board. Our attitude was good, we got away with a couple of quick tries over them. Second half we pulled away as it got a bit hotter.”
Fullback Dane Subritzky Clarke was named back POTD for scoring four tries and a conversion. Other tries by, Leon Emery 2, Hayden Jurlina, Brodus
Ngaruhe, Mitch Jurlina (and 8 conversions and a penalty on a good day with the boot where he missed only one attempt), Tomas Gueirdon and Kyle Thomson, while prop Aaron George picked up the forward POTD citation.
The result leaves Kaitaia firmly rooted to the bottom of the standings and yet to post their first points of the season, which left manager Clayton Murray a tad bemused.
“In all fairness, there’s no shortage of players no shortage of talent and no shortage of morale in the team. If we were lacking those things I’d be really worried. What we lack is fitness hence the tough start to the season for us. It’s really that simple. When we sort that out I believe we’ll be back to being a team that can take on the big guns.”
Kaeo 26 Otiria 29 (HT 7-10): Otiria continued to rewrite the record books by scoring their third win on the trot away in an exciting Bay derby at Waikoura Domain.
Kaeo scored first but went in to the break trailing in a match which OT coach Te Rangi Allen said the lead “chopped and changed” throughout. The homeside had an opportunity to win the match at the very end but the ball went over the dead-ball line.
“Kaeo have got a marvellous backline, we had to work to contain them,” Allen said. “Our forward pack just worked their guts out all day. Everyone was on their feet at the end. I don’t think OT has won three in a row ever. This is the start of a new chapter.”
Standout was centre Lawrence Turner who made some beautiful try saving tackles, while also notable was No.8 Paora Allen doing everything technically right and solid under the high ball from either team.
Kaeo’s Paul Nathan wasn’t overly impressed with his side’s performance but admitted everyone there was at least treated to a quality game.
“She [match] was a pearler. When you are trying to rebuild... We made a few fundamental mistakes, OT were good opposition.”
Kaeo tries by Royce Sanderson 2 (the fullback also named back POTD), Jamal Pawa, and Chase Hughes with Troy Hughes adding 3 conversions. Also notable were prop Evan Tauroa, and No.8 Hayden Smyth.
Kaikohe 26 Moerewa United Kawakawa 27: The game of the round - a rematch of last year’s Bay final – took place at Kaikohe where the homeside was unlucky to steal the win.
Kaikohe took the lead 26-24 for the first time in the game, having 3 minutes to go Kaikohe discipline dropped and Moe got a penalty in front of the posts to make the final score 27-26.
Moerewa UK coach Wayne Martin said this hard fought game went down to the wire.
“We shot out to be up 24-12 at the Otiria’s Alan Trip attacks the Kaeo line in this North Zone match at Kaeo on Saturday. The visitors continued their unprecedented winning streak by running out to a 26-29 victory.
oranges then Kaikohe struck back from the kick off by scoring a converted try. Kaikohe dominated the second half with a powerful scrum and a never-give up attitude which took them into the lead 26-24 with six minutes left,” Martin said.
He noted the visitors struck back from the subsequent kick off by scoring a penalty to get the lead, before a potential match winning penalty from Kaikohe sailed just to the left of the upright.
Moerewa UK standouts were young lock Lattrell Maihi enjoying his first start by picking up the forward POTD, and evergreen Kane Brooks at halfback bagging 17 points with a try, 3 conversions and 2 penalties. Other tries by fullback Josh Owen and No.8 Paul Maihi.
Kaikohe coach Wally Harris congratulated the visitors for once again bringing such a nail-biting game for all to watch.
“Both teams battled the entire 80 minutes for dominance and not one was willing to give an inch,” said Harris, noting a slow start for the hosts allowed Moerewa UK to take the early points. “Kaikohe was always having to play catch up rugby, the last five minutes was intense.
“I was proud of our team, every year we make little improvements... It’s not only what we do on the field it's how we act off the field where we are role models for the younger generation and need to lead by example,” he said.
Panguru 43 Okaihau 24 (HT 7-17): Panguru came back from a half time deficit to post a comfortable win at Whakapara Domain in Panguru.
Panguru assistant coach Mike Te Wake said that after a minute’s silence was held for Reno Leef, the game began at 1000mph, and the massive home crowd was treated to a fast and flowing affair in unbelievably hot conditions.
“They [Okaihau] have a massive forward pack. Their set pieces they dominated us, pushed us around all day. We had a game plan to go wide and that’s where all the tries came from. Cracker of a game.”
Tries by Rihari Thomas 2 (the centre also picked up back POTD), Mikey Tangimetua 2 (and 4 conversions), Hepa Matthews, AJ Pomare and Reretai Hauriti, while also notable was lock Mitikakau Morunga, forward POTD.
Okaihau coach Clint Chops Clayden said it was a real experience playing at Panguru, and particularly in front of such vocal supporters.
“It was a hard game. They put on a massive feed.”
Standouts were No.5 Dale Thomas who scored a good try and was part of a strong forward performance. Two penalty tries were awarded the visitors while Reuben Peri scored another and converted it. Also notable was newbie Sean at centre and the Tongan brothers making up the visitors “big front row”
In other news, Chops said a “massive working bee” was held at the Okaihau club on Sunday to help get the new floodlights installed with around 25-30 there getting stuck in.
Bye: Taiamai Ohaeawai. STANDINGS: Moerewa/ Kawakawa (played 4, for/ against 177/93) 19 points, Awanui (4, 172/113) 17, Otiria (3, 100/63) 15, Kaeo (3, 125/61) 12, Kaikohe (4, 105/95) 12, Eastern (4, 161/116) 11, Panguru (4, 110/103) 10, Ohaeawai (3, 72/101) 6, Okaihau (4, 109/147) 6, Rarawa (4, 83/172) 3, Kaitaia (3, 42/192) 0.
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In other news, Kerikeri kicked off its Bayleys Premiership campaign with double defeat at Hora Hora, the Keri As lost 27-14, the Reserves by 71-12.