With high scoring matches and multiple tries the order of the day in Saturday's round of the Baywide Premier division, the clash between Te Puke Sports and Rangataua was a battle of attrition.
Te Puke finally prevailed 10-7 at their excellent facilities at Murry Salt Stadium but not before the much improved Rangataua team gave the defending champions an almighty fright.
The first half was scoreless but on the evidence of their advantage in possession, territory and penalties awarded it should have been Rangataua well ahead. But two missed penalty kicks for goal and, more importantly, a lack of composure with try scoring opportunities begging, cost them dearly.
At one stage, a former Rangataua player yelled out "don't panic guys, take your time", which may well have applied to Te Puke as well.
It took them 30 minutes to really get into the game and they dominated the final 10 minutes of the first half but managed to spill the ball forward on four consecutive attacking raids. It was just overanxiety to push the final pass rather than sticking to the game plan and keeping it simple, which all teams suffer from at this early stage of the season.
Te Puke crucially put former NZ Under-21 hooker Nathan Harris and Luke Perrott on after the break and both played significant roles in the scrum domination and with ball in hand. Harris actually slotted into loosehead prop - much to his surprise after getting the word from coach Craig Jeffries - and showed he has the versatility to be able to hold his own there.
The second half finally had some scoring action for the spectators to get excited about after early Te Puke pressure caused Rangataua to concede three quick penalties in their own 22 - the final one causing referee Brett Johnson to send Matua Parkinson to the bin.
It was his first game of the season and he caused more annoyance with Mr Johnston by taking an eternity to get behind the Te Puke posts. Once there, he could only watch as Te Puke made use of their numerical advantage to score a classic driving maul try from a lineout with Harris the man who had the ball over the line.
But Rangataua came back immediately after outstanding openside flanker Mathew Clutterbuck charged down a clearing kick and kept his cool to set a ruck on the Te Puke line. Two phases later and left winger Kanin Clany was in close enough to the posts for Kaui Ririnui to convert and Rangataua were up 7-5.
But just like last week, when they led Mount Maunganui until late in the game, Rangataua could not hold on. Te Puke waited until there were just 18 minutes left to play before they scored the match winner through replacement Mark Nicolaas, after some thunderous phases near the line. But fullback Junior Tofa Va'a missed the simple conversion to leave the home team 10-7 in front but they held on for a crucial win and leave Rangataua wondering what they have to do to get over the winner's line.
Te Puke 10 (Nathan Harris, Mark Nicolaas tries) Rangataua 7 (Kanin Clancy try; Kaui Ririnui con).