Rugby: Tauranga fall short in late run

Four first-half tries was the difference between the two top-ranked teams in the opening game at this year's Tai Mitchell Tournament.
Rotorua Maroon managed to hold out a spirited second-half comeback from Tauranga West to beat last year's winners 24-19 at Edgecumbe Rugby Domain yesterday.
Maroon's coach Wayne Fell said he was pleased with his team's performance but they would have to step it up and play 80 minutes of rugby if they wanted to win the Tai Mitchell Trophy for the first time since Rotorua was split into Maroon and Gold.
"I think we played particularly well in the first 25 minutes.
"We put enough points on then we went to sleep a little bit. They [Tauranga] played well, they came back well and they always will."
The team's win came off a four-try blitz in the first half, set up by their star first five-eighth Uru Hohepa.
He was devastating and deceptively quick from set play, thanks to some slick passing from halfback Te Ra Whata.
The youngster terrorised Tauranga West's back line, constantly finding space.
Uru managed to convert two of the four tries scored by Rueben Taylor, Te Ra Whata, Jayden Sargent and Jordan Tagoai.
Rotorua's domination wasn't to last, the team unable to score in the second half.
Tauranga's forwards slowly but surely started to get on top of their opponents, thanks to their loose forwards Fergus Kirk, Jacob Norris and Taane Paki.
The three were like roving pack of wolves managing to regularly beat Rotorua's loosies to the breakdown and either turn over possession or gain a penalty from Rotorua holding on to the ball.
However, Tauranga West coach Kane Hames said they were unable to convert that dominance into a win with the team being let down by the final pass being dropped or poor option taking.
"I thought we dominated at ruck time but I think we probably need to hold on to the ball and look after it a little bit more."
Tauranga scored three tries to Lewis Newton, Jacob Norris and Kini Ormsby with Max Gray and Carlos Price converting a kick each.
Fell said he was proud of his team's effort considering their preparation for the tournament was interrupted when Hohepa had to deal with the death of a family member earlier in the week.
"I think the boys have come together well.
"Some of them have found it hard to get their heads around it but it's a life-changing event, especially for Uru. They came together well."
He said the 12-year-old was a talented player who would only grow as a player.
"He is very talented, tends to nod off a little bit and needs to learn to control the game. If he can learn to do that he'll be super good."
Hohepa told The Daily Post yesterday he was happy with the win.
"It was a bit tough but it was all right - we still won. We just knew we had to go all in and hang tough."
Both teams were to play again today, Rotorua playing Opotiki and Tauranga up against Rangitaiki. The finals will be played on Wednesday.
Result: Rotorua Maroon 24 (Jaden Sargent, Ruben Taylor, Te Ra Whata, Jordan Tagoai tries; Uru Hohepa 2 con) Tauranga West 19 (Lewis Newton, Jacob Norris, Kini Ormsby tries; Max Gray, Carlos Price con). Halftime 24-12.