Enterprise Cars OBM manager David Milne agreed about Solomon’s contribution.
“T-Bone’s impact was massive,” he said.
“Our forwards, especially Rikki who has come back from concussion played well and Keith’s experience stood out.
“T-Bone and Keith are still trying out different backline combinations, but this win was a good one in that it puts us four points ahead of HSOB in fourth spot with a game in hand. If we can beat Athletic in two weeks (after East Coast host Poverty Bay in Tolaga Bay on Saturday) it sets us up to finish in the top four. At least that would mean it’s in our own hands.
“But as T-Bone said, there’s still work to be done over the next few games.”
A penalty try, automatic conversion, along with tries to OBM lock and player of the day Juston Allen and first five-eighth Dean Pohatu (who picked up two points) gave OBM a 19-5 lead at the break.
Good form continuedFormer Tapuae flanker Ngahiwi Manuel continued his good form by winning one point.
Tapuae, thumped 112-0 by HSOB last week, played well into the wind and were rewarded with a try to hard-working lock Jermaine Kaimoana.
But with fresh legs being introduced after the interval, OBM scored 31 unanswered points in the second half.
Tapuae player of the day was prop Jekesoni Fatafehi, followed by halfback Zane Hiko and first five-eighth Carlos Carroll.
“It was certainly a much better performance than last week,” Hema said.
“After that result, the boys could have chucked it in and not turned up, but that was never going to happen and they deserve a lot of credit.”
YMP moved to within five points of competition leaders GT Shearing Waikohu, who had the bye, with a 45-8 victory over Charteris Choppers Athletic in Wairoa.“They deserved to win but I thought we did a good job of holding them in the first 40, a bit like when we played Waikohu,” Athletic coach Jimmy Whaitiri said.
“YMP have some big forwards who are hard to stop when they get up a head of steam but we met them and knocked them over.
“Unfortunately they just got back up and kept going and eventually, after stringing some phases together, they got the ball out wide where they did the damage.”
Whaitiri, a former Poverty Bay coach and YMP coach, who guided the Magpies to three straight Lee Bros Shield titles in 1991, ’92 and ’93, was impressed with YMP’s Mekepio Brown (No.8), Shayde Skudder (hooker), Fawn White (openside flanker) and Axel Campbell (prop).
“We had some players of our own who would not look out of place in any of the top four teams — players like Jesse Kapene, who can play six, seven or eight or in the backs; and Kurt Taylor, who normally plays first-five . . . I used him as a flanker and he had an excellent game.
“Hayden Law, who played 10, was another who played well.
“Unfortunately, we don’t have the depth of YMP when it comes to numbers but what we lack in that area is more than made up for in commitment.
YMP centre Te Peehe Fairlie scored three tries in a man-of-the-match performance while Skudder, having a great season, collected two and White one.
“After last week’s win against Ngatapa I wanted to keep the same side, which we did, apart from Jayden Milner who has transferred to Ruatoria City in the Coast competition,” Smith said.
“Jacob Leaf came in at fullback for Jayden and even though it’s not his prefered position Jacob played well.
YMP halfback Brian Whaitiri-White followed on from where he left off last week.
He kept Athletic guessing, taking the ball to the line, using the forwards to charge up the park, or spreading it wide to his back three to do the damage.
Halfback Nate Sokia scored Athletic’s try, while Taylor kicked a penalty.
OBM 50 (R Terekia 2, J Allen, D Pohatu, J Holmes, T Solomon, penalty try with automatic conversion, V Denicaucau tries; J Holmes 4 con).
Tapuae 5 (J Kaimoana try).
HT: 19-5
YMP 45 (Te Peehe Fairle 3, R Wyllie, Te Whaiora Paenga, M Brown, B Whaitiri-White tries; B Whaitiri-White 3 cons, 3 pens).
ATHLETIC 8 (N Sokia try; K Taylor pen).
