Jack Richardson won the first lineout of the match four and a half minutes in; he played with amazing zest and featured in all parts of play. Ruatoria left wing Fabyan Kahaki proved in that period that he is a tough competitor, simply by getting up after being levelled in a tackle by Fairlie.
In the 11th minute, Ruatoria scored for 5-5. Ten metres out from Uawa’s goal-line, left side of the ground, hooker Codey Ellis found Jack Richardson for his second clean catch at the lineout. Tighthead prop George Tuala headed openside and was brought down five metres short. Fellow prop Pera Bishop then picked the ball up and drove down the blindside to put the visitors on the board.
At the 13-minute mark, Uawa scored their second try. At the 22, left side, hooker Wyntah Riki found openside flanker Rikki Kernohan at the front of the lineout, No.8 Priestley charged five metres with ball in hand. From the ensuing ruck, halfback Sam Parkes sent the ball to Chris Richardson with second-five Tawhao Stewart then cutting Fairlie out, and right wing George Halley scored in the corner for 10-5.
Eighteen minutes in, Uawa lost Chris Richardson. He returned five minutes later, but did not play in the second half. In the 31st minute, veteran Joey Keelan, Tuala’s replacement at prop, combined with Ellis to make the biggest hit of the game on Uawa captain and lock Scott Lasenby.
Uawa led 10-5 at halftime. At the 44th minute, wizardry from Stewart helped Fairlie score his second try. Fifteen metres out from his own goal-line, right side of the ground, Stewart shimmied past three men to find Parkes on his inside. Parkes found Fairlie, who then went 40m to score beneath the crossbar. Priestley converted for 17-5.
In the 57th minute, 10m out from Uawa’s line, the visitors put it all together. From a solid scrum platform five metres off the right-hand touch, halfback CJ Fox-Campbell went left to first-five Neihana Ratahi-Brown, reserve second-five Karauria Keelan then giving pacy centre Scott McKinley a super short pass to score for Ruatoria 10, Uawa 17. Reserve Taiaho White converted.
Uawa led 17-12 until, at the 56th minute, Parkes gathered a return pass — on the third bounce — from reserve right wing Tipene Meihana to score 15m to the right of the posts. Ruatoria had earlier been driven back over halfway in a tackle by Priestley, Parkes getting the ball wide to Meihana at the 10m mark in Ruatoria territory. Meihana had hooked the ball infield at the 22, for a scrambling Parkes.
Priestley converted for 24-12.
Davies went to the blood-bin.
With six minutes to play, Uawa set an attacking scrum 10m in from the right-side touch, five metres out from the goal-line. Priestley found Parkes on his left, who put up a crossfield bomb. Giant left wing Niao Savage outjumped Quentin Takarangi to score in the corner for 29-12, which with Priestley’s third conversion became 31-12.
Playing under advantage five metres out from Uawa’s goal-line, in the middle of the field, Fox-Campbell tapped the ball and went left to Keelan, who cut Kahaki out to find Ruatoria captain and No.8 Tim Barbarich for a try on fulltime. The conversion attempt was unsuccessful and it was 31-17 to Uawa.
“It was really tough — and quick out there at times, too,” Barbarich said.
“This rugby has been ingrained in every one of us for generations. We all know what Barry Cup means.”
Lasenby voiced similar sentiments.
“That was a great first hit-out and I thought young Mark-James Tuapawa did well on debut,” he said.
“The physicality is of a different order.”
This Sunday, Uawa will mount their second defence of the Barry Cup, again at 2.30pm, against the Wairoa sub-union.
