Rugby: Opotiki pushed to the limit in opener

Opotiki College First XV held off a late charge from their Mount Maunganui counterparts to take a win from their first match of the Bay of Plenty Polytechnic Secondary Schools Competition on Saturday.

The visitors ran out deserved winners 20-18 at Mount Maunganui College after a performance built around large ball-runners crashing into defenders close to the ruck.

Prop Tukakae Tahau scored the game's first try after the teams traded early penalties, but it was the first of Karl Smith's two tries not long after that burst the game wide open.

The effort, including a decent turn of speed on the outside, a chip and chase and a one-on-one strip near the goal line, made the score 15-3 and gave his side a clear advantage.

His second, during which he showed even more toe, made the score 20-6 in Opotiki's favour midway through the second half.

Mount was not done though, and managed to conjure up a comeback on the back of some attractive running rugby.

Mount wing Leini Hakamotu, who plays in a manner not too dissimilar to Inga Tuigamala, was heavily involved.

He barged over from close range after a number of fine touches, before inside back Sioeli Faaui capped a strong display by blowing over the top of the Opotiki cover defence in the corner as time expired.

The conversion made it 20-18, with Opotiki running out winners thanks mainly to a strong forward effort.

Opotiki College coach Richie Howe was glad to have got off to a winning start.

"A win's a win, so we'll take it," said Howe.

"It was the first game of the season, we got a lot out of it, but a lot of improvement is needed. We should have put them away but we let them back in. I went to the bench, made a few changes, and I think the game changed."

Opotiki College 20 (Karl Smith 2, Tukakae Tahau tries; Kaleb Maxwell con, pen) beat Mount Maunganui 18 (Sioeli Faaui, Leini Hakamotu tries; Bill Carter 2 pens, Daniel Pushart con)