Champs win first up

Tapuae loosehead prop Chase Ruruhe scores a try with HSOB blindside flanker Viliami Kavai hanging on. Tapuae, returning to the premier rugby championship after a nine-year absence, hosted the Tiny White opening day of premier competition. HSOB won this match 37-19. Picture by Paul Rickard

Defending Lee Bros Shield champions High School Old Boys beat Tapuae 37-19 in the opening round of Poverty Bay premier rugby at Tapuae Sports Ground in Wairoa on Saturday.

But HSOB coaches Jamie Hutana and Scotty Leighton had nothing but praise for last year’s senior one champions.

“They’re a big side who I think will get better, especially when the grounds get heavy,” Leighton said.

“For us, it was a starting point and a win’s a win.”

Hutana echoed those sentiments.

“Tapuae should be proud of the way they played today,” Hutana said.

“They never gave up and kept taking the game to us; we’re happy to come away with the points.”

Tapuae coach Frank King was rapt with his side’s performance.

“I couldn’t have asked for more, apart from winning, but the boys gave it everything.

“We just couldn’t keep it going for the full 80. The heart was there but limited preparation, with some of the boys doing shifts at the works, took its toll. And High School Old Boys are a good side . . . the reigning champs.”

HSOB player of the day, first five-eighth Baxter Mackay, posted the first points — from a penalty — after 11 minutes, only for Tapuae to reply four minutes later through a try to centre Carlos Carroll. It was converted by his cousin, first five-eighth Yvan Carroll.

HSOB openside flanker Kupu Lloyd restored his side’s lead with a try, then No.8 Fale To Le Ofoa, extended the lead with a try. Neither try was converted.

Back came a fired-up home team with a super try to loosehead prop Chase Ruruhe to close the gap to 13-12. Yvan Carroll missed with the conversion attempt.

Five minutes before the break, High School Old Boys’ long-striding right-winger Andrew Tauatevalu dotted down following a grubber kick from halfback Willie Haenga. Mackay converted for a 20-12 halftime lead.

Tauatevalu then scored the try of the game in the 55th minute. It was an individual effort that started 45 metres out near the right-wing touchline and ended with Tauatevalu dotting the ball down under the bar. Mackay converted.

With HSOB leading 27-12, surely the time was ripe for them to kill off the challenge of a tiring Tapuae team.

Somebody forgot to tell the men in green and black. They surged back with a try to replacement forward Te Kapua Rewi. Carroll converted and, with 13 minutes to play, Tapuae were eight points behind the reigning champions.

High School Old Boys replacement halfback Scott Tallott’s try, converted by Mackay, gave the old students breathing space before Mackay completed the scoring with a 40-metre penalty.

Others to stand out for HSOB were To Le Ofoa, loosehead prop Myles Tawa and former Poverty Bay halfback Haenga, making his return to the side.

Although they were on the losing side, Wairoa No.8 Andre Mitchell, first-five Yvan Carroll and halfback Nikau Kaimoana were outstanding.

HSOB 37 (A Tauatevalu 2, K Lloyd, F To Le Ofoa, S Tallott tries; B Mackay 3 con, 2 pen)

TAPUAE 19 (C Carroll, C Ruruhe, T K Rewi tries; Y Carroll 2 con).

HT: 20-12.

Waikohu gave new coach Jason Tuapawa a winning start with a 53-14 victory over a gallant Athletic.

“It was a good start,” GT Shearing Ltd Waikohu coach Tuapawa said.

“We got the win, we were able to give everyone a run, and we picked up no injuries.”

Athletic coach Jimmy Whaitiri said he was proud of his side.

“We’ve not had the best of build-ups but I’ve got a good bunch of guys. The more time we spend on the training ground, the more we will improve.

“It was always going to be hard playing Waikohu; they’ve got a lot of very talented footballers.

“I’ve got nothing but admiration for the way our guys never gave up. At times they were heroic.

“We gave away a lot of silly penalties but that’s something we can improve on as the season progresses.”

It took only five minutes for Waikohu to open the scoring — a try to halfback Mario Counsell — and from then on Waikohu dominated the half, apart from the 30th minute, when fullback Sitiveni Nasove scored a try that was converted by skipper and first five-eighth Kurt Taylor.

The second half was similar to the first, with Waikohu attacking and Athletic defending bravely. But there was no stopping the tries.

Tuapawa was able to call on fresh legs, including former Gisborne Boys’ High School first 15 prop Jarryd Broughton, who scored a try and was later sin-binned for a high tackle.

KC Wilson, a powerful and speedy winger, introduced himself to Waikohu supporters with two super tries.

Counsell, Ethine Reeves, Kelvin Smith and Tawhao Stewart were the pick of the Waikohu backs while skipper and hooker Geoff Pari, tighthead prop Toro Noanoa, openside flanker James Rutene and No.8 Tulsa Kaui all had their moments of brilliance.

WAIKOHU 53 (KC Wilson 2, J Rutene 2, M Counsell, M Ruru, T Stewart, J Broughton tries; K Smith 4 con, pen, E Reeves con)

ATHLETIC 14 (S Nasove, J Kapene tries; K Taylor 2 con).

HT: 22-7.