A dominant scrum was all Waipu needed to thwart a Hikurangi comeback in the last round of the Bayleys Premier competition.
Everything that could wrong for hosts Hikurangi in the second half did go wrong and coach Alan Goodhew didn't mince his words while summing up his team's performance — or a lack of it.
"Scrum was what killed us," he lamented.
His team are out of the playoffs whereas Waipu's 43-24 win means they host Hora Hora in one of the semifinals this Saturday.
Injured hooker Campbell Matthews' presence in the front row was sorely missed by Hikurangi as Waipu smashed the home team with a far superior scrum, especially in the second half.
Waipu weren't any fitter, stronger or faster than their opponents. Nor was their skill level phenomenal. Nope.
What mattered was their mindset and ambition. They came out after the breather to win this game. They didn't stand back. They wanted to own Hikurangi and own the game when it mattered the most— in the final quarter.
Even if Hikurangi had screwed the nut tighter and ramped up the pressure in the dying stages, their inferior scrum would still have been exploited.
That alone was their Achilles heel and Waipu's bedrock.
Needing two converted scores to go in front with 15 minutes to go, there was a palpable hope amongst the home fans fora last-gasp win, but sloppy defence and ill-discipline put paid to that.
Lock Lucas Albornoz struck the killer blow when he barged for over for Waipu from a third scrum reset with time almost up.
A missed tackle by Hikurangi Chey Minhinnick allowed Waipu lock Albornoz to open the scores 10 minutes into the match but the home side replied five minutes later from a
rolling maul.
Hikurangi scored their second not long after a clever grubber kick by No 10 Shae Currie behind the defence line was scooped by Curtis Cherrington, who touched down in the corner.
A quick lineout throw by Waipu centre Tevita Gadeisuva caught the opposition defence napping on the right flank, which allowed fullback Jason Young to score.
A 50m run to the tryline by Hikurangi halfback Jono Kitto was the last act in the first half.
In the second half, poor defending saw prop Mike Tuiloma breaking multiple tackles while galloping on the left flank before offloading to Waipu flanker Matt Jensen for a try.
The visitors stepped up the tempo and bagged another try through Young, who ran nearly half the field to score.
Wobbly lineout, handling errors and offside play compounded Hikurangi's woes.
Goodhew said they made Waipu work in the first half but his side couldn't match the scrum in the second.
Waipu mentor Graham Dewes was happy with the outcome and an opportunity to host one of the semifinals.
"Scrum was one of our strengths but you can't afford to rely solely on that. We have to be mentally prepared for the semis."
Kamo will host Old Boys Marist in the other semifinal this weekend.
Results: Premier
Kerikeri 31 Old Boys Marist 26
Hikurangi 24 Waipu 43
Wellsford 50 Mid Northern 19
Premier Reserve (Section A)
Kerikeri 24 OBM 17
Hikurangi 31 Waipu 45
Wellsford 57 Mid Northern 26
Championship (Mangonui)
Awanui 16 Eastern United 23
Kaitaia 48 Panguru 17
Championships (finals)
Mid Western 3 Tomarata 17