Tauranga Sports confirmed their place as easily the best team in the Baywide Premier competition as they kept their unbeaten status for the season after a 53-13 victory over Te Puna at Maramatanga Park on Saturday.
The dazzling display of fast-paced, attacking 15-man rugby produced four tries in each halfand by the final quarter the gallant Te Puna side had no answer to all the relentless Tauranga attacks, after getting back into the game with some high skill of their own to trail 24-13 early in the second half.
Last year's Bay of Plenty development team centre, Nic Evemy, had a superb game in front of Steamers coach Kevin Schuler, scoring three tries from his outstanding support play and ability to break the line.
Tauranga's back three of wingers Nick Thomson, Phillip Togotogorua and fullback Steve Honey were again in top form, and the halfback pairing of Josh Hall and new first-five Paul Morris would also have impressed Schuler.
But dazzling back play does not happen without top quality front-foot ball from the forwards and that is exactly what Tauranga's pack produced.
Led by the outstanding No 8 Carl Axtens, who is maturing into the top-class player he promised when he made the NZ Schools and NZ Under-20 teams, Tauranga stood up well to the muscular Te Puna pack and outshone them in fitness in the last quarter.
It was a day to celebrate in the Honey household. Younger brother Josh was player of the day for Tauranga Boys' First XV in their memorable win over Auckland Grammar across town at Nicholson Field, and older brother Steve playing a key role against Te Puna after he was awarded a Steamers contract to follow in the footsteps of his father Cliff, who played eight games for Bay of Plenty in 1986.
It is fitting reward for the dynamic fullback with the build and running style of Queensland rugby league superstar Billy Slater.
"Mike Rogers, the Sports coach, announced it [the contract] on Thursday night at our team meeting. It was pretty cool to be told in front of the guys because I don't think I would be where I am without them. It has always been my goal to make the Steamers, since I was in the Bay Academy when I was 16, but I have tried too hard to push for that so this year I have just stepped back and had a good look at my game.
Tauranga Sports 53 (N. Evemy 3, P. Morris, J. Hall, N. Thomson, D. Thomas, P. Togotogorua tries; P. Morris 5 cons, pen) Te Puna 13 (D. Houia, A. Kuka tries; T. Aihe Toma pen)
