Mount Maunganui's crack surf boat crews have set up an intriguing conclusion to the national series this weekend after a notable double on the swell-swept beaches of Piha.
The Mount men edged out national champions Titahi Bay at Saturday's Piha Classic, collecting maximum points for the first time this season, while the Mount women's crew again reigned supreme to all but wrap up the title.
With this weekend's North Island championships in Waihi Beach completing the series, the Mount men are now just a point behind Titahi Bay, with both crews overtaking early leaders Piha who withered on their home beach.
The Mount women have a healthy four-point lead over their Titahi Bay counterparts, while the unheralded Omanu Outcasts completed a great weekend for the Bay brigade by moving to fourth on the men's standings.
Australian crew Jan Juc _ who stayed on after racing in Friday's transtasman series _ took line honours in the final on Saturday in tough 2m surf but the Mount chased their wake into the beach.
"The Aussie crew beat us by half a length but we were the first Kiwis home so we're stoked," Mount second stroke Steve Rush said.
"We had a good alley out in lane two but we fell off a wave coming back in. We picked up the next one but it was a lot steeper and we didn't think we were going to make it but somehow we stuck on and came through to the line."
Mount sweep Wayne Urbahn was masterful in the tricky conditions, while Dan Matuschka made a welcome return from injury in the crucial stroke position.
Defending champions Titahi Bay were third in the final to narrowly preserve their series lead, while Piha were fifth on their home break, missing a royal chance to pull ahead of Piha.
Instead, it was the unheralded Mount crew who overcame a dreadful performance in the transtasman series _ where they finished last _ in the best possible way.
"That was pretty tough _ we had a different stroke in the boat who'd never rowed with us before and everything that could go wrong seemed to," Rush said.
"We sat down this morning and started with a clean slate and were pretty determined and it paid off. It was good to finally get a win _ we've had a few seconds and thirds this season but we've been working hard and it all came together."
Omanu, with a relatively new crew of James Berthlesen, Ross Watson, Aaron Irwin, Leigh Sefton and Hamish Reid, showed their dramatic improvement by finishing fourth, ahead of some of the more illustrious clubs in thefinal.
The Mount women have been in peerless form this season, unbeaten in the first round in Wellington, then picking up the Whangamata title after Whakatane were disqualified in the final.
They kept out of the range of nearest rivals Titahi Bay and Bethells Beach on Saturday, with Orewa fourth and Waihi Beach fifth.
The rookie Mount B crew was one of several to sustain damage to their boat, with officials reducing the round robin competition before holding semifinal and final races.
And the carnage may continue this weekend, with Waihi Beach hosting the final round _ the North Island Championships _ with an increasing easterly swell forecast.
Last year's Waihi round was held in dramatic 3m swells, with Matuschka taken to hospital with suspected spinal injuries after a horrible broach.
Series points:
Open men: Titahi Bay 42.5 1, Mount Maunganui 41.5 2, Piha 40 3, Omanu 30 4, Bethells Beach 27 5, Red Beach and Titahi Bay B 26 each 6 equal, Muriwai 22 8, Red Beach 20 9, Mairangi Bay 19 10.
Open women: Mount Maunganui 45 1, Titahi Bay A 41 2, Waihi 33 3, Lyall Bay 30.5 4, Orewa Blue 28.5 5, Bethells Beach 27.5 6, Orewa White 27 7, Red Beach 25 8, Whakatane 20 9, Paekakariki 15.5 10.
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.
Latest from Sport
Te Puke Sports’ big Baywide rugby win
Fullback Fletcher Carpenter was the star of the show; Rangiuru draw with Rangataua.