CHARGING: Hunter Mokomoko makes a break for Te Puna against Tauranga Sports. Photo: ANDREW WARNER
When Te Puna ran in four tries to lead Tauranga Sports 37-5 at halftime on Saturday, it was game over surely.
But in the best comeback of the Baywide season, Tauranga ran in six unanswered tries with a freshening wind behind their backs but it was not enough as the home side held on to win 43-37.
It was a close-run thing as the bumper home crowd at Maramatanga Park willed their team home.
Tauranga were as impressive in the second stanza as they had been poor in the first and for the second week running were unable to put together an 80-minute performance.
Winger Oisin Clarken scored two tries in quick succession in the opening salvos of the second spell to change the game's momentum.
The difference between the sides was the superb goalkicking of young first-five Rewita Biddle in his first year of senior rugby after leaving Opotiki College at the end of last year.
The fullback turned first-five scored a try and kicked nine from nine for a haul of 28 points while his vastly experienced opponent Paul Morris surprisingly missed all but one of his seven conversion attempts.
The loss leaves Tauranga Sports in the unenviable position of losing both their opening matches after last week's loss to Rotoiti at home.
They certainly were left shaking their head after the first-half performance from Te Puna which included a brace of tries to halfback Jordy Stone and a 50m spectacular from Steamers rep Elijah Nicholas.
Stone made his own way up to Bay of Plenty to try his luck after playing club footy in Christchurch and looks a useful addition to the Steamers halfback stocks.
Te Puna coach Aidan Kuka was relieved to come away with the win after three losses on the trot.
"It was a great start. It was hard after our week and after our warm-up to gauge just how well we were going to come out today," he said.
"There has been something burning away inside all the boys for the last three weeks and today they put together a bloody good first half. I am very proud of that one."
But he was at a loss to explain how they managed to get so completely outplayed in conceding six tries in the second half.
"I don't know. We definitely weren't complacent and we didn't decide to change tactics. Maybe it was just a mental switch that went off on the boys at halftime."
It was a special day for Te Puna's Wally Mill who made his 200th appearance in the black and blue hoops.
In other Premier 1 action, Rotoiti came back from 16-0 down at halftime against Mount Maunganui Sports at Emery Park to score in the final play of the match to claim a 17-16 win. Te Puke Sports were too good for Whakarewarewa winning 53-17 while Rangataua and Greerton Marist drew 24-all.
Results:
Premier One
Te Puna 43 Tauranga Sports 37, Te Puke Sports 53 Whakarewarewa 17, Rangataua 24 Greerton Marist 24, Rotoiti 17 Mount Maunganui 16.
Premier Two
Paroa 43 Marist St Michaels 15, Poroporo 24 Waikite 19, Whakatane Marist 33 Opotiki 25, Arataki 39 Ngongotaha 19.
Division One
Papamoa 36 Katikati 13, Waimana 41 Rangiuru 5, Te Teko 23 Ruatoki 22, Kahukura 28 Judea 17.
Division Two
Edgecumbe 20 Reporoa 19, Murupara 65 Eastern Districts 12, Eastern Pirates v Matata - no result posted.
Development One
Te Puna 29 Tauranga Sports 12, Te Puke Sports 87 Whakarewarewa 5, Rotoiti 38 Mount Maunganui 14, Rangataua 38 Greerton Marist 19.
Development Two
Paroa 36 Marist St Michaels 5, Poroporo 32 Waikite 32, Whakatane Marist 30 Opotiki 29, Arataki v Ngongotaha - no result posted.
Bethlehem Coachlines Baywide Secondary Schools
Division 1
Te Wharekura o Mauao 35 vs John Paul College 18, Trident High School 29 vs Aquinas College 20, Rotorua Boys' High School 2nd XV 90 vs Opotiki College 10, Western Heights High School 27 vs Bethlehem College 5
Division 2
Otumoetai College 51 vs Whakatane High School 5
Tauhara College 22 vs Tauranga Boys' College 3rd XV 5, Rotorua Boys' High School 3rd XV 17 vs Papamoa College 18, Taupo Nui A Tia College 21 vs Te Puke High School 14
Division 3
Tarawera High School vs Rotorua Boys High School U15 A win by default
Mount Maunganui College 20 vs Rotorua Lakes High School 20, Reporoa/John Paul College Bye