GLIDING TRY: YMP fullback Andrew Tauatevalu scores a try in the epic premier grade rugby final on Saturday. YMP defeated back-to-back champions Waikohu 28-24. Picture by Paul Rickard
YMP broke a 12-year Poverty Bay premier club rugby title drought with a 28-24 win over defending champions Waikohu in front of a 2000-plus-strong crowd at Rugby Park on Saturday.
If a final to the Civil Project Solutions premier competition was to ever be etched in history books as one of the most entertaining and thrilling games, it would have been this one.
A thunderous haka by GT Shearing Waikohu laid down the challenge and set the tone for the next 80 minutes.
East Coast Farm Vets YMP, chasing their first premier crown since 2010, wasted no time in getting on the board — fullback Andrew Tauatevalu kicking a penalty in the third minute.
Waikohu suffered a blow in the 15th minute when captain and halfback Mario Counsel went off with a leg injury.
It forced a reshuffle, with first five-eighth Ruan Du Plooy shifting to the No.9 spot.
That didn’t deter the side from making some big runs and showing the physicality for which they are well known.
YMP, though, applied plenty pressure in the ruck area to slow their momentum.
Waikohu No.8 Tristen Morten and fullback Moses Christie made dangerous breaks but YMP were quick to recover and snuff them out.
It was from a Waikohu attack that YMP increased their lead in the 27th minute.
Waikohu pushed their way inside the YMP 22 but excellent defence saw the ball pop out and kicked downfield by Tauatevalu. Winger Te Peehi Farlie chased and got a boot to it, then Tauatevalu kicked again and regathered.
YMP were hot on attack. Through the pick-and-go they pressed towards the line and captain Shayde Skudder was on the spot to pick up and crash over for their opening try.
Tauatevalu slotted a sideline conversion to put them 10-0 ahead.
Waikohu showed fight and resilience, pressuring the YMP defence, throwing the ball wide and using their superiority in the scrums.
They got on the board in the 37th minute after earning a penalty five metres from the line. They chose to scrum, Morten picked up and carried towards the line, falling just short.
It set up a ruck and from a pick-and-go prop Jarryd Broughton forced his way over.
The conversion was missed and shortly after, Tauatevalu missed a penalty kick and the half ended 10-5 in favour of YMP.
YMP earned a penalty early in the second spell and Tauatevalu kicked it over for a 13-5 lead.
Waikohu hit straight back with a try in the 44th minute. From close to the line, Morten crashed over to close the gap to 13-10. It was not converted.
YMP quickly responded with an attack after a turnover in a ruck. They pressed towards the line, moving the ball quickly to the wing. And from a ruck, prop Nehe Papuni picked and went over for a try to put them 18-10 ahead.
A few minutes later they scored again. The ball was moved quickly out wide to Tauatevalu, who sprinted and dived over in the right-hand corner.
He converted his own try to put them out to 25-10.
Waikohu struck back in the 60th. A big push from a scrum five metres out was disrupted illegally by YMP halfback Ra Broughton and referee Damien Macpherson awarded a penalty try and sinbinned Broughton.
Waikohu, now down only 25-17, tried to make the most of the extra man but it was some individual power and brilliance by lock Tusla Kaui that further closed the gap.
From 40 metres out, Kaui at first receiver got the ball, threw a half-dummy, sped through the first line of defence then stepped past the last line and scored near the posts in the 66th minute.
Christie converted to make it a one-point contest, 25-24.
Tauatevalu slotted his third penalty kick to make it 28-24 in the last 10 minutes.
Waikohu weren’t ready to give up. They pushed hard for a try that would win it but to no avail.
A jubilant Skudder was hugely proud of his team and the support they had been given every week.
“I would like to thank all of our whanau for coming out and supporting us, not only for yesterday, but all year.
“They were definitely a big part of our season and we could feel the love all year,” he said.
“I would like to thank Waikohu for a hard battle out there. They have pretty much set the standard for the past few years and we knew what they were going to bring — especially my brothers Marzy (Counsel) and Kelv (Smith).”
Waikohu player/coach Kelvin Smith echoed the same feeling of support.
“A big congratulations to Shayde and his boys. All the hard mahi they put in over the year has paid off.
“To our faithful supporters who stuck with us through thick and thin, we would like to thank them for having our backs, especially the ones who do all the hard mahi behind the scenes up at the clubhouse.
“The boys are in good spirits, obviously gutted we didn’t win, but it’s a good incentive going into next year.”
He also thanked all their sponsors.
YMP coach Kahu Tamatea, in his first season in charge, said he was also proud of the management/supporters/whanau and sponsors.
“The feeling in the camp was surreal and it was like a huge weight was lifted from our shoulders.
“Being a bridesmaid too many times in the 12 years since our last championship cast a shadow over our club for too long, but now that’s gone.”