Ngatapa coach Steve Hickey said it was a great game, evenly contested, and physical up front.
“I thought our backs defended well to contain their attacking strengths,” he said.
About 800 fans at Te Karaka Domain braved the elements (it was raining at kick-off) and saw two strong teams come to terms with a slippery surface, carry the ball aggressively and tackle hard.
Ngatapa lock Scott Brodie set the tone from the start with a nine-stride surge through would-be defenders, but the hosts opened the scoring at the four-minute mark.
Over 12 phases of play, Waikohu worked the ball from left to right of the ground. Captain and hooker Geoff Pari, third man to have a crack at the goal line, scored 10 metres in from the corner.
Waikohu led 5-0 until the 14th minute, when — like Pari before him — Player of Origin loosehead prop Russell Burns, third man up, scored 5m in from the right touch.
Something needed to give for the challengers and it did: 18 minutes into the game, they took the first of three tightheads. Twenty minutes in, from an attacking scrum set 5m out from Waikohu’s goal line — 8m off the right sideline — big Ngatapa lock Sam McDell was the second man to test the home team’s blindside defence; he scored.
Loosehead prop Campbell Chrisp and teammate Brodie ran the ball up with gusto during this period but at the 30th minute, Waikohu — having been given a penalty by referee Fred Barwick, tap-kicked the ball and gone three phases to within 10m of the right touch — scored through fullback Andrew Tauatevalu. Second-five Ethine Reeves then struck gold on a grey day, converting for Waikohu 17, Ngatapa 5 at the break.
Two minutes after half time, the home team lost another tighthead in centrefield, 25m out from their own goal line: on the left, now with a golden opportunity, Ngatapa second-five Sione Ngatu (a Poverty Bay forward with 200 caps) punished them for it. Centre Peter Livingston converted Ngatu’s try but Waikohu still led 17-12.
In the 64th minute — in front of the posts, 15m out — Reeves kicked a penalty goal (20-12), before things began happening quickly.
In the 66th minute, a fearless Brodie ran directly at giant reserve tighthead prop Jarryd Broughton — who proceeded to drive him back 15m in the tackle; 68 minutes in rain came again and in the 70th minute — from a tap-penalty 5m to the right of the posts, 10m out from the Ngatapa goal line — the Barry Cup holders went through three sets of hands to the left and No.22 KC Wilson made the left corner to score the first try of his late, match-winning double: the conversion by Reeves was a handsome effort for 27-12.
The 75th minute saw reserve left-wing Wilson strike again for 32-12 — with Ngatapa hooker Ihaia Kerr having the last word in the 80th. The ball went through four sets of hands before the hard-working rake scored the green and whites’ third try. Livingston converted for Ngatapa 19, Waikohu 32.
Ngatapa captain No.8 James Maher said that the game, while being very physical and quick rugby, was played in good spirit.
“I wouldn’t expect anything less from Ngatapa,” Pari said.
“That was hard, and the rain evened things up. We’re happy to get the win and we’ll do it all again this Sunday v Hikurangi.
“They’ll be tough too.”
