ON THE CHARGE: Uawa prop Puri Hauiti makes one of several impressive bursts against Tawhiti. Backing him up are Harley Phillips (left) Scott Lasenby (behind) and flanker Rikki Kernohan. Uawa won the club clash 102-0. Picture by Tania Hunter
FULLBACK Jason Babbington’s boot was Tokomaru United’s X-factor in their 32-26 win against Waiapu in East Coast club rugby at Tokomaru Bay Domain on Saturday.
Babbington is back in the Ngati Porou East Coast squad this year and benefited from a kicking session with All Blacks assistant coach Wayne Smith and wing Nehe Milner-Skudder during their tour of the Coast with Rugby World Cup trophy ‘“Wiremu” last week.
Waiapu kicked off and were close to the home side’s 22 when Toko wing James Te Kahika took the ball in loose play and streaked down the sideline.
He was near the Waiapu 22 when the defence caught him but he fought them off and finished the job, circling round to make Babbington’s conversion easier.
Waiapu went back hard on attack and before long had a penalty close to the goal-line. They ran it and lock Nathan Huriwai went over for a try, which was not converted.
Toko second five Mike King, who moved up from Poverty Bay between seasons, scored his side’s second try, also not converted.
Waiapu have the competition’s heaviest tight five — locks Huriwai and Loren Fox, props Chris Haenga and Frank Manuel and hooker Paul Ruru — and they dominated the scrums, rucks and lineouts in the first half.
There was nothing between the two sets of backs — superb defence and some great individual breaks, though many passes were misdirected and more kicks could have found touch.
Waiapu were missing first choice No.10 and kicker Tojo Maaka through injury.
They kept the ball in the Toko half for most of the next 15 minutes, and Huriwai then added another try. Abbey Wawatai missed the conversion.
Play up and down the fieldBoth teams fought hard in the final 15 minutes of the first 40, with play see-sawing up and down the field. However, a Babbington penalty was the only score.
Toko had an effective korero at the break and soon after the second half kicked off Te Kahika burst through for his second try, converted by Babbington. This was followed by a series of penalties to Waiapu from which they failed to score.
Waiapu’s big men became tired and were slower to breakdowns as the second half wore on. Prop Mike Chambers now led a dominant Toko pack, with effective work by loosies Jake Williams and Reuben Parkes, as well as No.8 Adam Williams.
After perhaps leaving it too long, Waiapu brought on new forwards — Anthony Tuahine, Tripoli Poi and Hoto Te Whetu — and this added fuel to their fire.
However, Babbington soon added Toko’s fourth try, which he converted, taking their lead to 30-12.
That seemed to be the ginger that Waiapu needed and soon added their third try.
After the conversion attempt, Waiapu went straight back on to Toko’s line. Toko scrumhalf Petera Smith cleared from a ruck to a player behind the goal-line who dropped the ball.
Waiapu replacement forward Jesse Haenga pounced on it and Waiapu had another six points.
The final few minutes were tense before another penalty to Babbington.
Tokomaru United 32 (James Te Kahika 2, Mike King, Jason Babbington tries; Babbington 2 con, 2 pen).
Waiapu 26 (Nathan Huriwai 3, Jesse Haenga tries; Abbey Wawatai con).
HT: 16-12 (Tokomaru United).
Uawa v Tawhiti¦ Uawa continued their winning streak with a 102-0 victory over Tawhiti in the early game at Tokomaru Bay Domain.
The score indicates a walkover but that was not exactly the case.
Tawhiti played the full 80 minutes, and made Uawa work for every point.
Tawhiti coach Darryl Gibson conceded it was hard for the players during this rebuilding phase.
“We put a team on the field every week, and I tell them it is the fact we’re there and playing hard that matters at this stage. We’ll get our rewards in time.”
His team on Saturday were young and showed dogged defence, though many of their attacking moves broke down.
Uawa have stamped their mark on the Coast club competition this year by having a large and fit squad, developing the skills of individual players and working together. The man with the ball knows he has support and knows where to find it.
The front row has gone from being so-so last year to a strong unit this season.
Hooker Trey Crawford and props Wyntah Riki and Puri Hauiti stood out, fighting for the ball and gaining useful ground. Locks Kerehama Blackman and James Brennan, loosies Te Atipo Kirikiri and Ben Parkes and No.8 Harley Phillips made up the balance of the Uawa scrum, which worked well with the backs.
However, it was a bitter-sweet victory for Uawa, as they lost promising 18-year-old Jordan Murray-Birch for the rest of the season.
Murray-Birch broke a leg in a tackle and was taken to Gisborne Hospital by helicopter.
New East Coast referee Richard Tuhaka controlled the game well.
Uawa 102 (Vllayne Whakakata 4, Storm Moran 2, Kerehama Blackman 2, Jessie Rye, Wyntah Riki, Ben Parkes, Jessie Saywell, Jordan Patrick tries, penalty try; Chris Wanoa 4, Patrick 2, Te Atipo Kirikiri con, Wanoa pen).
Tawhiti 0.
City v Hikurangi¦ It was 80 minutes of red-hot tension when City and Hikurangi drew 22-all at Ruatoria.
Hard as it would be for either team to admit, this was probably because they were well matched. Hiku have a strong forward pack while the City backs were dominant and this was reflected in the tryscorers.
First to score was City lock Tim Barbarich, who kicked a penalty. This was quickly followed by a try to Pat McLean, who was playing his 100th game for Hiku.
According to City manager Lorne Boyce-Goldsmith and Hiku manager Fred Haua, the game was evenly-matched.
City were leading 22-14 with 10 minutes to go. There must have been a din from both sidelines as Hiku were urged to close the gap and City encouraged to deliver the killer blow.
Hiku won that one and evened the score right on fulltime with a try to Moni Soutar.
Ruatoria City 22 (Wiremu Ngata 2, Neihana Ratahi tries; Tim Barbarich con, pen)
Hikurangi 22 (Pat McLean, Horace Lewis, Moni Soutar tries; Kris Palmer 2 con)
Tokararangi beat Hicks Bay¦ Tokararangi beat Hicks Bay 44-20.
Toka dominated in the backs and forwards, but the Bay forwards looked stronger than in recent weeks.
Tokararangi 44 (Te Whetu Waitoa 2, Israel Brown, Hauiti Ngatai, Mohi Bartlett, Pamona Samupo tries. Rapata Haerewa 4 con).
Hicks Bay 20 (Frank Taiapa 2, Keith Henderson tries; Leyth Delamere con).