Horowhenua-Kapiti coach Chris Wilton said: “The Coast took it to us in a game that could have gone either way. We're glad to have come up for a win. I thought their lineout was good and young Carlos Kemp, the first-five, his kicking game was very good and they certainly lifted when they were in our 22.”
Big lock Shelford won the toss, choosing to run towards town into a mild northeasterly breeze with a crowd of 500 on hand.
Hawke's Bay referee Stu Catley ran a game played in great spirit, not a single card being handed out.
Kemp kicked off, and No.8 Callum Watts-Pointer made the first strong carry back for Horowhenua-Kapiti. Shortly thereafter, the 'Nua put enormous scrum-pressure on NPEC on their own feed and it was the strength of their tighthead prop Scott Cameron there more so than the second-half try he scored that won him the red-white-and-blues' MVP (most valuable player) award.
Coast openside flanker Jack Richardson — who fell awkwardly in a tackle 34 minutes into the game and rolled his left ankle but chose to continue — was the Coast's kaupoi (cowboy) and MVP.
Gear's men opened the scoring after seven minutes with a try to hooker Jorian Tangaere in the right corner.
Gear is a coach and a player who sets high standards, and there is certainly room for improvement in this Coast side, but lock Boston Hunt had a magnificent all-round game. His work at the lineout before and after Tangaere's try was a feature of the Sky Blues' match effort.
Kemp converted the first try of the match for 7-0 to the hosts with second five-eighth Tyler Tane kicking a 40-metre penalty goal in the 11th minute for Horowhenua-Kapiti 3, NPEC 7.
The 'Nua took their first lead of the game after 17 minutes with a try to left wing Willie Paia'aua in the corner.
The Coast hit back through mighty centre Api Pewhairangi, who crunched in to score under the crossbar in the 21st minute. Kemp converted for 14-8, and the Sky Blues had the upper hand until 'Nua hooker Sase Va'a got across for the fourth try of the game a minute before halftime.
Before the break, NPEC went through a period during which tough passes were made and ball was dropped with the 'Nua at full stretch defensively, but none of this detracts from the home team's commitment. Kemp's huge hit on Shelford near halfway in the 37th minute was an example of that.
The Sky Blues were worth at least one more try heading into halftime.
Horowhenua-Kapiti's excellence at the scrum was never better illustrated than at the resumption. The restart didn't travel 10m but the visitors, at the Coast's scrum set at halfway for the error, took a tighthead: a big moment in the game.
The likes of 'Nua blindside flanker Joel Winterburn won good lineout ball for the visitors.
Tangaere and reserve tighthead prop Perrin Manuel were superb for the Coast in that facet of play, tidying up loose, overthrown ball at the tail.
After 53 minutes, Horowhenua-Kapiti scored through scrum-anchor Cameron, and subsequently Tane's conversion gave Wilton's hard-working crew the lead 20-14.
In the 58 minute, the 'Nua No.13, Tautau Kapea, grabbed their fourth try, for the bonus point. No conversion resulted, and the visitors were 25-14 up. With fullback Keaton Kawana's tremendous finish (78 minutes), and the conversion added by Tane, Horowhenua-Kapiti took the game 32-14.
The match was well controlled by Catley, whose even-handedness and positioning were excellent throughout. His standard was kept by assistant referees Jimmy Green and Shirley Mullany-Mato, AR1 Green picking the Sky Blues up on a tight sideline call in the 32nd minute.
The 'Nua performed well at set-piece; the Coast were strong at the lineout. The visitors have the reputation of being one of the best scrummaging sides in the Heartland Championship.
The Coast's discipline was not an issue: possession and field position were fairly even between the sides in the first half, the 'Nua having an edge in territory in the second half.
Shelford said: “The game was awesome and we managed to get back into it by executing our game-plan. Hopefully we build on that against South Canterbury this Saturday. We wish the Coast all the best for their away game against Mid-Canterbury at Ashburton, and for the rest of their campaign.”
In the curtain-raiser, the Ngati Porou East Coast Under-18s beat the Gisborne Boys' High School Under-15s 30-22.
