Rugby: Greerton push rivals hard

In their first season back in the top grade last year, Greerton Marist were soundly beaten twice by Tauranga Sports, conceding 79 points.

So there was plenty of incentive for the home team at Greerton Park to test their opponents and they achieved that with a gutsy performance, despite losing 25-18 to an injury-depleted Tauranga lineup.

It was a typical season-opener with far too much dropped ball and sloppy work at the breakdown from both teams, but there was plenty of good rugby played and some outstanding tries were scored.

Tauranga's Bay of Plenty squad backs Steven Honey and Nick Evemy were in sizzling early-season form, with both players making line breaks at will.

Greerton had first use of a stiff breeze and opened the scoring when lock Taylor Jones crashed over after a quick penalty tap was taken by halfback Daniel Deveraux.

Tauranga then spent a large period on attack, but four golden try-scoring opportunities were wasted as players pushed passes that were not on. But the pressure had to tell and winger Nick Thompson crossed after 24 minutes for the first of Tauranga's four tries.

Greerton took the lead with a penalty, then two minutes of madness cost them two players to the sin bin and may well have cost them the match. Midfielders Andrew Boyd and Josh Evemy saw yellow cards for starting two minor skirmishes and Honey also had a spell behind the posts for a high tackle.

So for the final 10 minutes it was 14 versus 13 but Greerton kicked a penalty for an unexpected 10-8 lead at halftime.

Most neutrals at the excellent Greerton Park facilities expected the home team to falter in the final 40 but they came out more composed and disciplined after words from coach Kane Parker.

Blair Tristram kicked his second penalty to extend the lead to 13-8 and the whiff of an upset wafted around the park.

However, Tauranga showed their experience and class to take control at the vital stage, tries to Honey and Phillip Togo Togo Rua putting them into the lead 20-13.

But Greerton came storming back to close the gap to 20-18 with a try to Kaleb Barke with five minutes left to play, before Bay of Plenty squad member Lewis Hancock showed his class to free up winger Togo Togo Rua, who then passed to Aifai Esera for the match-winning try to the Tauranga side.

The win sees Tauranga Sports retain the Jordon Cup and Brian McCord Trophy.

Tauranga Sports 25 (Steven Honey, Nick Thompson, Phillip Togo Togo Rua, Aifai Esera tries; Nick Evemy con, pen)

Greerton Marist 18 (Taylor Jones, Kaleb Barke tries; Blair Tristram con, 2 pens).