Bishop, Fox epitomise grassroots rugby

Left, it is not entirely certain how many games goal-kicking lock Nathaniel Fox has played for Ruatoria City — it could be as high as 150 — but tomorrow the club will officially acknowledge his 100th when City take on Waima at Hatea-a-Rangi Memorial Park in Tokomaru Bay. Fox made his club debut at age 14. Picture by Doone Harrison

Hikurangi Te Maunga are dominant at this point.

They are unbeaten with four wins, having defeated Waima, Waiapu, Tihirau Victory Club and — by 15-10 on Saturday in the derby match — Ruatoria City in H Blackbee Contractors Ngāti Porou East Coast men’s club rugby.

City had much to celebrate. Their loosehead prop Pera Bishop, whose loyal service runs so far back that no scribe could give an exact record of his caps, was the star of the show for the hosts. That he’s played 100-plus games for a club in its 101st year, no one doubts.

Goal-kicking lock Nathaniel Fox’s 100th game will be cause for more celebration tomorrow, although it is happily admitted that he, too, has turned out well over 100 times for the club.

Both men, playing under Ngāti Porou East Coast back-row forward Jack Richardson, are the sorts of good citizens that the national game at grassroots level is crying out for.

Bishop’s fellow prop Jayden Leiua-Pukia was City’s try-scorer against The Maunga with Fox converting his try. Fox also landed a penalty goal, Hikurangi captain and fullback Kris Palmer matching his feat with the boot; the visitors went one try better, through Cruz Hinaki and his replacement on the left-wing, Hone Manuel.

The winning margin of five points between clubs also extended to Hicks Bay’s 17-12 win against Waiapu at George Nepia Memorial Park at the weekend. Hosts Waiapu, under skipper and fetcher Will Bolingford and his fellow try-scoring flanker Te Miini Kohere-Smiler, can count themselves unlucky. Waiapu led 7-0 at the break — halfback Hamuera Moana-Baker had converted the Kohere-Smiler try — but the visitors’ fullback, Irie Noanoa, converted both of their tries to centre Shaun Murtagh and powerful reserve forward Anton King. He also kicked a crucial penalty goal.

Bolingford gave his take on the game: “We’re still working on our systems and connections — we’re not far off where we want to be. Hicks Bay also played well, and with passion, to leave with a win.”

Tihirau Victory Club had the big win of Round 5.

Three TVC patriots scored doubles in their 38-12 win away from home against Waima. Loosehead prop Hirini Delamere, centre Tame Anderson and fullback Verdon Bartlett — all three being among Cape Runaway’s best of the modern era — were outstanding, Delamere converting four of the six TVC tries.

Api Pewhairangi and Jason Babbington scored five-pointers for Lisa Muller’s Waima.

TVC have the bye tomorrow, with Waiapu to host Tokararangi at George Nepia Memorial Park, Hikurangi to rumble with Hicks Bay at Kahuitara and Waima to visit Ruatoria City. Waiapu versus Waima has an 11.30am start. All others will kick off at 2pm. Only two weeks remain until the men’s semifinals.

Round 5 of Enterprise Cars NPEC women’s club rugby pits Hikurangi against Hicks Bay at Kahuitara from 11.30am and Ruatoria City will take on Waima at Hatea-a-Rangi Memorial Park from 11.30am.

H Blackbee Contractors Ngāti Porou East Coast men’s club rugby

Week 5 — Hikurangi 15 (Cruz Hinaki, Hone Manuel tries; Kris Palmer con, pen) Ruatoria City 10 (Jayden Leiua-Pukia try; Nathaniel Fox con, pen). HT: 10-7  Ruatoria City.

Waiapu 12 (Te Miini Kohere-Smiler, Will Bolingford tries; Hamuera Moana-Baker con) Hicks Bay 17 (Shaun Murtagh, Anton King try; Irie Noanoa 2 con, pen). HT: 7-0 Waiapu.

Waima 12 (Api Pewhairangi, Jason Babbington tries; Pewhairangi con) Tihirau Victory Club 38 (Hirini Delamere 2, Tame Anderson 2, Verdon Bartlett 2 tries; Delamere 4 con). HT: 32-12

MVPs: Teotene Ria (Hikurangi), Jack Richardson (Ruatoria City), Braxton Bonica-Kururangi (Waiapu), Wiremu King-Taufa (Hicks Bay), Te Haeata Kururangi (Waima), Joseph Roberts (TVC).

Enterprise Cars NPEC women’s club rugby

Week 3 — Hikurangi 29 (Cassiopeia Harrison, Waiotemarama Parata, Charlie Haua-Kahaki, Kimi Parata tries; Kimi Parata 2 con) Ruatoria City 0. HT: 17-0 Hikurangi.

Waiapu 7 (Rakai Papuni try; Danielle Nepe con) Hicks Bay 25 (Jordyn Tihore 3, Diane Pahuru, Sensamelia Hina tries). HT: 15-7 Waiapu.

Waima 0 TVC 39 (Dane-a Kopa 5, Sarah Waititi 2 tries; Kopa con, Alizay Grant con). HT: 12-0 TVC.

MVPs: Kimi Parata (Hikurangi), Rena-deane Goldsmith (Ruatoria City), Rakai Papuni (Waiapu), Charli Delamere (Hicks Bay), Cheyenne Babbington-Ngerengere (Waima), Hemi Wairua (TVC).