Rugby: Te Puna defeat Tauranga Sports to reach first final

The final whistle blew and the army of blue and black supporters erupted.

Car horns sounded frantically, supporters embraced each other and teenagers circled the field waving large flags printed with Te Puna's emblem.

History was made at Maramatanga Park as Te Puna collected their first ticket to a Baywide Championship final after beating Tauranga Sports 39-17.

A 32-6 win for Te Puke over Mount Maunganui at Murray Salt Stadium on Saturday means Te Puna will take on Te Puke in the final this Saturday.

Te Puna showed dominance over the visitors from the beginning with a try from centre Will Ngatai in the opening minutes which was converted by captain Te Aihe Toma.

Te Puna's Will Ngatai scored in the opening minutes. Photo/ Andrew Warner

Toma went on to collect another three points after a successful penalty kick in the 14th minute.

Tauranga Sports were quick to answer back with a try from winger Tyrone Keith and a conversion from first five John Dodd.

Both sides picked up a few extra points in the middle of the first half with successful penalty kicks.

Te Puna first five Reece MacDonald fired up the crowd with a breakthrough run which led to a try for hooker Angus McDonald.

McDonald got the ball over the line for the second time just before halftime, but with two missed conversions from Toma, the score sat at 23-10.

Another unsuccessful penalty from Toma was quickly brushed aside with a try from Te Puna prop Liam Morrison 12 minutes into the second half. Toma landed the conversion and his form was solid for the remainder of the match.

Twenty-two minutes in and Te Puna were a player down from a yellow card but another penalty from Toma meant the score sat at 33-10.

Tauranga Sports were not giving up easily and in the 69th minute claimed their second try and conversion of the match.

Te Puna's victory looked certain with six minutes left on the clock but two more successful penalty kicks from Toma confirmed the win for the home team.

After a celebratory lap around the field and a salute to their loyal supporters, coach Aidan Kuka praised his team after a tense match.

Kuka said the game was intense to start with but the side claimed dominance off the back of their defence.

"I thought our defence was courageous and we managed to work our way out of our goal line numerous times. That gave us a lot of energy when it was time to attack.

"It was tense but in the end, I think we sewed it up around the 60-minute mark," he said.

Because it was Te Puna's first semifinal match, Kuka said the team had spoken about treating it just as any other game, "with a special touch on top".

He said the team had plenty to play for and there was enough to keep the side emotionally charged.

"It was just how we were going to use that emotion and I think the boys have done that really well today."

Kuka said he was looking forward to the final against Te Puke next week, a matchup the team had been dreaming about.

"We've beaten them before this season and they've beaten us, so it's certainly not out of our reach," he said.

Kuka said his side would be "giving it everything" in the final.

"We'll be taking the whole of Te Puna and everyone else that we can pick up in Tauranga and [be] taking them all to Te Puke next Saturday."