Greerton Marist gave their play-off hopes a massive boost when they beat second-placed Te Puke Sports 16-10 in a hard-fought tussle at Greerton Park on Saturday.
The fact both teams could manage just one try each showed how dominant the defensive lines were and there was plenty of heroic last-ditch tackling on show. But the home side certainly had more to gain as their semifinal aspirations are still alive with one round to play.
Te Puke typically finished strongly - as they have all season - but their injury ravaged squad took far too long to get into the game. It did not help that Bay of Plenty's top hooker Nathan Harris was on the sideline until just before halftime, as Te Puke struggled at lineout time and missed his dynamic ball carrying and scrummaging power that was a feature of the second half.
Greerton dominated the first spell with the key axis of No8 Joe Key, halfback Dan Deveraux and first-five Tim O'Malley in standout form. O'Malley's tactical kicking was a feature and he enjoyed great service from Steamers halfback Deveraux, who made a telling break after 32 minutes past the Te Puke forwards from a scrum and cleverly passed infield for Key to score.
O'Malley's boot took Greerton to 10-3 at the break and they had Highlanders and new Steamers winger Tino Nemani on the field for his first run in a month after a shoulder problem.
A key moment came after 54 minutes when Te Puke Sports prop Chub Hale was sent to the sin bin, which resulted in three more points from the penalty to O'Malley and a depowering of Te Puke's traditional forward power. They still managed to lay siege at Greerton's line but were unable to find a way through.
Greerton's left winger Jimmi Roberts eased the pressure with a sparkling 40 metre burst and nearly went all the way to the line.
Te Puke coughed up the ball and were then penalised, which O'Malley turned into a 16-3 lead for the home side.
Te Puke finally showed their class in the final 10 minutes, scoring a try from the kick off to Sami Paulsson out wide, following a charge up the middle at pace from tighthead prop Joe Ormsby.
Carlos Basham's sideline conversion took off like a drunk seagull in flight but somehow skimmed over the bar to leave Greerton ahead just 16-10, but they held on for a meritorious win.
A highlight of the second half was the assured performance from 40-year-old former Steamers halfback Ramaka Poihepe who turned back the years with a fine display, after he replace the injured Carlos Savage, who shows plenty of promise just a year out of Tauranga Boys' First XV.
Greerton coach Kane Parker said he was proud of how his players came together well after a difficult last three weeks.
Both Parker and Te Puke coach Craig Jeffries were unhappy with the policing of the advantage line and why the three officials were unable to communicate with each other.
Greerton Marist 16 (Joe Key try; Tim O'Malley con, 3 pens) Te Puke Sports 10 (Sami Paulsson try; Carlos Basham con, pen). Halftime 10-3 GM.