East Coast rugby result that no one picked

On the break: Waiapu first five-eighth Slade Tiopira (left) gives chase to Hikurangi blindside flanker Te Raenawe Parata, who has hooker Ngarimu Parata in support. Picture by Doone Harrison

No one picked this.

Saturday was an unprecedented day in the history of East Coast rugby.

Never before have a team who did not take the field on opening day later drawn with the defending champions in the first round. And never before have such a team then beaten the defending champions in the second round.

The Lisa Muller-coached Ruatoria City may not have made the local derby against Hikurangi on April 7, but they did beat 2017 champions Tihirau Victory Club 38-20 at Whakarua Park on Saturday, having drawn 27-all with TVC in Week 4.

City came back from 12-0 down following a ferocious assault by the visitors in the first 10 minutes — a barrage that would have crushed a team lacking their qualities of courage and resilience.

Hikurangi, first-round winners and holders of the Kath McLean Memorial Trophy, beat Waiapu 88-13 in a match between the No.1 and No.8 teams, Uawa beat Hicks Bay 35-33 in a 3 v 6 match, and No.4 team Tokararangi beat No.7 Tokomaru Bay United by default.

In the only movement on the eight-team table in Week 11, Uawa swapped third place for second position with TVC.

Hikurangi now have 49 competition points, Uawa 46, TVC 42, Tokararangi 38, Ruatoria City 25, Hicks Bay 15, Tokomaru Bay United 12 and Waiapu five.

“That was a physical game — TVC put us under pressure — so the boys are pumped up,” said coach Muller.

“We still have a lot of work to do, but we’re aiming for the Top 4.”

Second five-eighth Nathaniel Fox, the resident superboot, was the toast of City. He converted all five of the home team’s tries and kicked a penalty goal.

Tryscorers were player of the day and openside flanker Jerry Mataira, reserve left wing Dennis Te Kahika, right wing Quentin Takarangi, loosehead prop Pera Bishop and reserve right wing James Te Kahika.

TVC’s Anthony Heal and fullback Peeti Delamere scored first, Delamere also kicking a penalty for 13-0 before City stormed back with converted tries to Mataira and Dennis Te Kahika. City then led 14-13.

TVC lock Tim Wheeler scored first after halftime to put his side ahead 18-14, then 20-14 on the conversion by Delamere.

A Fox penalty then drew City closer, at 20-17.

City then scored with converted tries to Takarangi, Bishop, in the 70th minute, and James Te Kahaki, two minutes from time.

City captain and tighthead prop Tim Barbarich was delighted.

“It was a strong performance across the park — our forwards and backs combined well to score some excellent tries.”

Despite the quality match-effort of TVC’s player of the day, centre Rawiri Waititi, among others, coach Whetu Haerewa didn’t mince words.

“We played all right in patches but they were better than us,” he said.

“They beat us up front and then they beat us out wide.”

His captain, second-five Moana Mato, also made no excuses, although he said the team hadn’t played for four weeks before Saturday.

“Our fitness wasn’t there,” he said.

“It was a fast, expansive game in which we were found wanting.”

Nine out of 10 kicksNine out of 10 kicks.

Ten tries were scored at Wharekahika on Saturday — five apiece to victors Uawa and the vanquished, Hicks Bay.

It has been a hard year so far for Hicks Bay but that didn’t stop them from giving Uawa a heck of a run for their money.

Uawa beat Hicks Bay 35-33 in a thriller.

Uawa banged hard on the door early on, the visitors racing out to a 21-0 lead courtesy of converted tries to halfback Sam Parkes, first-five Tipene Meihana and centre Niao Savage.

Hicks Bay No.8 Frank Taiapa then scored in the right corner 20 minutes into the game for 21-5. First-five Hona Delamere followed suit in the 25th minute and converted his own try.

Delamere’s try was a beauty. Taiapa came off the back of an attacking scrum 10 metres into Uawa’s half centrefield, drew two defenders and slipped a pass to Delamere, who scored beneath the bar. It was classic draw and pass.

Uawa led 21-12 at the break.

Hicks Bay loosehead prop Norman Hooper opened the second-half scoring in the 50th minute, that try being converted by Delamere to close it to 21-19.

Uawa’s Parkes and fullback BJ Sidney scored tries, both converted, to make it 35-19.

Hicks Bay hit back with a try to right wing Dominic Delamere, converted by centre Leyth Delamere, and the home team trailed by nine points.

The last act of the game —bar the subsequent conversion by Leyth Delamere — was a try between the posts by veteran halfback Tyrone Delamere.

“I’ve never had an easy game against them up there and it was brilliant rugby,” Uawa captain and openside flanker Scott Lasenby said.

“Hicks Bay have some experienced players, so I was pleased that our boys kept going and got the win.”

Lasenby said the game, played in perfect conditions, was complemented by an excellent refereeing display by Harawira Matahiki in terms of consistency and clarity.

“It was a good game to watch — there were a lot of close calls in it,” Hicks Bay player-coach Warren Henderson said.

“The Delameres were outstanding, Ivan Martin at lock emptied the tank, reserve openside flanker Bradiee Heu tackled tough. Forwards on both sides carried strongly but there was also plenty of ball for the wingers.”

Hikurangi can be devastatingThey can be devastating.

Hikurangi can attack from all parts . . . when isolated, outnumbered and seemingly hemmed in — be that on their own goal line, on the sideline, at halfway. On some days, location makes little difference: odds on or against, they’ll “have a go”.

And Hikurangi came from all sides in beating Waiapu 88-13 on Saturday. They scored 14 tries, with eight conversions from first-five Te Aho Matua Morice and one conversion from fullback Fabyan Kahaki.

The Hikurangi tryscorers were player of the day and left wing Zyon Collins, with a hat-trick, halfback Neihana Ratahi-Brown and centre Kahu Ward, who both scored two tries, and captain and hooker Ngarimu Parata, lock Te Rangi Matanuku Parata, blindside flanker Te Raenawe Parata, openside flanker Trent Proffit, No.8 Te Kaiwi Parata, second-five Rob Ngarimu and Morice.

Hikurangi extended a 38-0 half-time lead to 92-0 in the first round. On Saturday, Waiapu trailed 46-6 at the break. Player of the day and first-five Slade Tiopira kicked two penalties for the home team.

Waiapu coach Kahu Waitoa was pleased with Tiopira’s effort.

“He made all of his kicks at goal and found excellent touch with his line-kicks; TipTangaere at halfback was good value, too,” he said.

“Our boys found it hard to keep up with Hikurangi from about the 20-minute mark because they haven’t played for four weeks.”

The big moment for captain Frank Manuel’s Waiapu came with No.8 Tripoli Poi’s second-half try. The rolling maul and muscle shown were tremendous.

“I’m proud of our guys: we fielded a team and we competed hard,” Manuel said.

“We made metres with our big forwards, but our defence is a work in progress.”

Hikurangi coach Doone Harrison was impressed by Tiopira, Poi and the committed tackling of Waiapu fullback Wayne Kahaki, while Ngarimu Parata summed up the game with one comment: “It was fast and hard”.