Smith felt that the game was as tight as the score suggested and, at times, it was quick rugby. That it didn't flow, he put down to both teams' discipline.
Tamatea regarded the closest game of Week 4 as a great battle between the two top sides. The result could have gone either way but for the bounce of the ball.
Tamatea said YMP had learned some important lessons as a result.
Waikohu's season so far has featured wins against HSOB (43-0), Pirates (41-19) and OBM (38-20), before the clash with YMP.
YMP went into Saturday's big game with wins against Pirates (53-12), Ngatapa (31-20) and HSOB (57-14).
YMP beat Whakatane Marist 29-28 in the premier grade exchange with Eastern Bay of Plenty on May 14, but having that Saturday off in no way affected Waikohu's playing form.
The weekend before that, YMP had taken the Richard Bruce Memorial Trophy from HSOB despite being held scoreless for the first 21 minutes of a 43-point triumph.
YMP captain and hooker Shayde Skudder is a straight shooter — and, in keeping with the oldest active club in Poverty Bay, sees rugby through a black and white prism.
“I'm proud of my boys; they played well,” he said.
“It was a very physical battle up front and our forwards stayed in the fight until the final whistle.”
Waikohu skipper and halfback Mario Counsell was generous in victory.
“YMP carry the ball very strongly — we had to tackle our hearts out. I'm super-proud of the character they showed, in that great atmosphere, and it definitely was an awesome battle to have fought in.”
In Week 4, both YMP and Waikohu scored three tries and were organised well enough to scramble, then recover, in defence, often over six phases of play.
Referee Isaac Hughes deserves credit for his good humour — he was run over by a charging Jarryd Broughton as Waikohu put turnover ball to brutish use five metres from their own goal-line, and later copped Counsell's clearing pass at a ruck five metres from YMP's goal-line.
Hughes's accuracy of decision-making and rapport with both teams was enhanced by these events, not adversely affected by them. His assistant referees, Ben Holt and Bruce Amai, did a solid job in support of him.
Counsell won the toss on a nippy but bright afternoon. Waikohu played with a strong nor'westerly breeze at their backs.
The game began at breakneck pace with Waikohu's dynamic Tione Hubbard — in for Tane McGuire at centre — scoring five metres to the left of the posts in the third minute. The goal-kicking of fullback Morgan Christie, who converted Waikohu's three fine tries, was the difference between the teams.
Waikohu led 7-0.
YMP responded in the 17th minute. No.8 Jess Kapene, their Taste One MVP (most valuable player), came off the back of an attacking five-metre scrum a metre to the right of the posts in Waikohu territory. He slipped a magic pass (on any other day, an assist) to his supporting cast and from the ruck went through — not a hand was laid on him — to score between the posts.
Fullback Andrew Tauatevalu, converted the Kapene try for 7-7.
In the 35th minute, Waikohu's slick backline produced — in terms of a low pass or two sticking — one of the tries of the season.
From a five-metre attacking scrum six metres off the left touch, their No.8 Adrian Wyrill set up a ruck. Counsell went right to player-coach and first five-eighth Kelvin Smith, on a run-around with second-five Jacob Leaf. Smith went to Hubbard, Hubbard picked up Christie up on the fly and from him, Bavai took the last pass to scorenine metres from the corner.
Christie secured Waikohu a 14-7 lead at the break after a half during which outstanding players from both teams put their best foot forward.
Wyrill and YMP lock Willis Tamatea were superb at the lineout. They secured clean ball consistently and Wyrill even found time to intercept a pass midfield and plough 15m down the ground on counter-attack.
In the second half, Christie glided on the counter as Wyrill had ploughed, weaving his way 30m from first touch to the point at which big first-five Peia Fililava put him down hard.
In the 59th minute, YMP reaped rich reward for their accuracy at set-piece. From an attacking lineout seven metres from the left corner, Skudder hit Lewis at No.2. YMP held on to the ball over six phases of play — juggle in front of the posts notwithstanding — and fetcher Stuart Leach scored 12m in from the right touch. It was a great team try that spoke volumes about support play and determination. It made the score Waikohu 14 YMP 12.
YMP were now too close for Waikohu's liking and in the 70th minute, the Lee Bros Shield holders' good field position and skill in possession allowed them to post their third try.
From an attacking lineout 12m from the left corner at YMP's end of the ground — and the moment that rake Geoff Pari hit openside flanker Kupu Lloyd at No.5 — YMP were under real pressure. Over five phases, Waikohu went right, left, and at last found loosehead prop Toru Noanoa 14m to the left of the posts. Again, a 50-50 ball appeared during that passage of play (as it may do with a game in the balance) but Noanoa's try was converted and Waikohu led 21-12.
The last act of the game, in the 79th minute, unfolded with Hughes awarding YMP a penalty six metres into Waikohu territory, centrefield. Former Waikohu player-coach Ra Broughton — now YMP halfback — opted to tap-kick, feed Tauatevalu, and he ran on an angle towards the left corner and scored to close it to 21-17.
It was fitting that the game was not decided by a conversion, even two conversions — that would only have tied the scores for a draw, with no provision for extra time.
