A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.
Saturday, June 27: The second-placed visitors came from 16-0 down to win 22-16. Although possession was even, Waiapu, helped by a moderate-strength wind, piled on unanswered points in the first half.
Their heavier pack got the majority of scrum ball and more than its share of second-phase ball. Captain Tripoli Poi, powerhouse forward Frank Manuel and hooker Lauren Fox were superb.
When Tokararangi went on the attack, they were foiled by sheer grit and passionate defending by the Waiapu backs.
Waiapu first-five Tojo Maaka’s kicking invariably found touch and gained significant ground. The first points of the game came from a Maaka penalty. Fullback Puna Manuel, who had a great defensive game, increased the lead with an individual try from 40 metres out.
The try was converted by Maaka, who added a penalty from 43m to take the halftime score to 13-0.
Soon after the break, Maaka increased the lead to 16-0 with his third penalty. This spurred Tokararangi into action and in determined fashion they took the game to Waiapu.
Their forwards made headway in the scrums and lineouts while halfback Jamie Newman and first-five Rapata Haerewa fed a lively backline, who found holes in the Waiapu defence.
June 27: Tokararangi’s first points went to Ngati Porou East Coast representative Hone Haerewa, a try, which he converted. Haerewa and the loose trio of Chanz Hale, Morgan Wirepa and captain Don Mill began to dominate the Waiapu pack, whose big men got slower as the game progressed.
Fullback Whakarae Henare has been a key player for Tokararangi this season and reinforced that with a brilliant try. A Waiapu forward tore across to force an airborne Henare over the touchline but somehow he was able to dot the ball down in the corner.
With the score at 16-12 and momentum on Tokararangi ‘s side, they sensed victory and took the lead with a try to Rapata Haerewa, which he converted.
On fulltime Rapata Haerewa kicked a penalty to seal the comeback win. Tokararangi 22 (Hone Haerewa, Whakarae Henare, Rapata Haerewa tries, Rapata Haerewa con, pen, Hone Haerewa con).
Waiapu 16 (Puna Manuel try, Tojo Maaka con, 3 pen).
Hicks Bay’s 25-22 win over Ruatoria City moved them into fourth place in the competition with one game to go.
Saturday’s match in Ruatoria was close, with only a penalty separating the two teams. Both also earned a bonus point for scoring four or more tries and City got a losing bonus point.
Hicks Bay scored first with a try to first five Aaron Reedy but City quickly responded with a try to Wiremu Aupouri, converted by Tim Barbarich.
First-five Ire Noanoa then kicked a penalty to make the halftime score 8-7 to Hicks Bay.
“It took a while for our forwards to fire but our backs did well from the start,” City manager Lorne Boyce-Goldsmith said. “Hicks Bay had a big, effective forward pack.”
After the break, Noanoa scored a quick try to extend the visitors’ lead but City closed the deficit with a touchdown by James Te Kahika from a chip-and-chase. Hicks Bay responded with a try by Des Cook, converted by Noanoa, then a five-pointer to Frank Taiapa to make it 25-12.
City spent the last minutes in chase mode and came close with tries to Jayden Milner and Roha Dalton-Reedy.
But the normally-reliable Barbarich wasn’t able to slot the conversions.
After a few losses early in the season, Hicks Bay seem to be peaking at the right time.
“We followed our plan fairly well though a few things went wrong,” coach Tyrone Delamere said. “This season has been a good journey for us, and we’ve been getting things sorted as we have gone along.”
Hicks Bay 25 (Aaron Reedy, Ire Noanoa, Des Cook, Frank Taiapa tries, Ire Noanoa con, pen).
Ruatoria City 22 (Wiremu Aupouri, James Te Kahika, Jayden Milner, Roha Dalton-Reedy tries, Tim Barbarich con).
Overall Points (one game to go): Hikurangi 41, Tokararangi 34, Uawa 32, Hicks Bay 28, Waiapu 26, Ruatoria City 20, Tokomaru Bay United 17, Tawhiti 9.