Barry Cup moves onto new Wairoa defender

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

The Barry Cup has a new home.

Waikohu met a very determined Wairoa side that came with passion last Sunday.

The game ended in favour of the visitors 20-15, with both sides running in three tries apiece but Wairoa winning by a conversion and a penalty.

The heart that showed on the field for each team was immense, with physicality at its finest.

Waikohu showed perseverance to try to come back and stay in the game but a hard defence by Wairoa stopped them in their tracks.

Wairoa defend the Cup against Uawa tomorrow.

Co-coach Lenny Ferris is excited for tomorrow's game.

“The boys are really excited to be playing in front of a home crowd at the home of Wairoa rugby, Lambton Square,” Ferris said.

“This team has been building over the (last) five to six years to bring the Barry Cup home and they are not going to give it up easily.”

Gearing up for their first defence of the Cup, Wairoa are looking to work on getting the best players available to them to make sure the Cup stays in Wairoa.

“The team we have prepared is the best we could for the challenge of Uawa,” Ferris said.

“We know that they always field a strong team.”

The importance of the Cup will be made apparent next year as it will clock up 100 years of competition and Wairoa's dedication to retaining it will extend to its centenary.

“With the cup celebrating 100 years next year and with Wairoa sub-union kickstarting the competition, we want to celebrate in Wairoa and that is the motivation we are taking into tomorrow's game.” Ferris said.

The winner of tomorrow's game will go on to face the next challenger from the East Coast, Waiapu.