Bounceback win lifts OBM to second

LOW BLOW: A Farmvets YMP defender tackles Enterprise Cars OMP hooker Dayne Williams in a premier club rugby match at Manutuke on Saturday. OBM won 26-22 to move to second on the table headed by Woodbank HSOB, who were upset 10-8 by Aon Waikohu at Te Karaka. Picture by Paul Rickard

OBM bounced back from last week’s Poverty Bay premier club rugby loss to HSOB with a bonus-point 26-22 win over YMP at Manutuke on Saturday.

The win leapfrogged Enterprise Cars OBM over Farmvets YMP into second on the table headed by Woodbank HSOB, despite their shock loss to Waikohu.

OBM dominated the first 40 minutes but trailed 14-12 at halftime.

YMP’s first-half points came from tries to fullback Taine Aupouri and lock Eru Wharerau and a conversion to first five-eighth Willie Brown.

OBM replied with a pushover try to OBM No.8 James Rutene and a six-pointer to winger George Halley.

“The amount of defending we had to do in the first 40 eventually took its toll on us in the second half,” said YMP player-coach Reihana Wyllie, who was sinbinned for a high tackle in the second half.

“We were totally gassed out.”

Holmes slots a penaltyOBM second five Jake Holmes and skipper Murray Hewson (lock) scored tries in the second half and Holmes slotted a penalty.

Brown kicked four penalties in the second spell for the Magpies.

“We controlled the first half but typical YMP defended well and then broke away and went into the break 14-12 ahead,” said OBM coach Stu Blair.

“When Reihana came on he gave them good go-forward. Willis Tamatea (YMP loosie) had a stormer but we’ve got a good bunch of young guys and senior players, and I was pleased with the way we responded in the second half.

“James Rutene had a good game. He’s been pretty consistent for us. I’ve used him at seven and eight and he always fronts up.

“Dayne Williams (prop) was another who played well,” said Blair, adding they had been working hard on good team structures “with players playing for each other”.

OBM (20pts) closed the gap on HSOB (24) to five points, with YMP (17) and Waikohu (12) making up the top four.

Larsawn Ngatapa got the monkey off their back with a 28-8 win against Kevin Hollis Glass Pirates at Rugby Park on Friday night.

It was Ngatapa’s first win of the season but having picked up five bonus points means they are only three points behind Waikohu.