First points came after 10 minutes from a penalty, kicked by TVC lock Manaia Nyman.
Soon after, the ball was kicked ahead and into goal by Hiku, but was forced by a TVC defender. At this stage both teams began to try moving the ball along their backs, but the conditions favoured the defenders.
After 15 minutes, TVC moved the ball through their backs and wing Joey Ford battled his way down the sideline to score a metre in from the touch. Manaia Nyman converted.
At this stage the rain intensified, but TVC kept pushing the ball out along the line. A few minutes later, Ford gave a repeat performance, forcing his way down the sideline for six more points. The try was not converted.
Hiku were still unable to finish moves. For instance, at the 30-minute stage they were just inside the TVC 22-metre line, and won a penalty. Kris Palmer kicked the ball out. Hiku won lineout ball and formed a rolling maul which took them close to the TVC line, where they won another penalty.
Hiku chose a scrum, but made no progress and then won their third penalty in this sequence. They passed the ball along the line, dropped it forward and TVC were awarded a scrum. Ahoafi passed the ball to Bartlett who cleared to beyond the 22.
TVC led 16-0 at the break, and there was woeful muttering among the supporters in the black jackets.
But Hiku coach Koro Ngarimu seemed to have done the business in the huddle, as a more focused team came out for the second 40. They included reinforcements Tanetoa Parata and Te Moni Soutar.
But it took time for focus to turn into points, and for Hiku to cut out the scrappy play.
The first points in the second half came after 15 minutes, when Nyman kicked another penalty for TVC, stretching their lead to 18-0.
Charlie Harrison was initiating useful moves from the base of the scrum, and using his backline effectively. Around the 60-minute mark, Hiku second-five Loni Fisiihoi scored his team’s first try, after a back move following a penalty. Kris Palmer converted.
Another Hiku try, by Billy Manuel, soon followed, also converted by Kris Palmer, and TVC led 18-16.
It was game on, and tense, as TVC suffered a blow to their scrum. Hooker Rika Mato and props Rawiri Waititi and Joshua McDonald had been a useful unit, but McDonald was red-carded after repeating the offence for which he had been previously sin-binned.
Hiku took full advantage of the weakening of the TVC scrum and went for the rolling maul 15 metres from the TVC line. Just to make sure, all except one Hiku back joined the maul and Fisiihoi scored.
TVC then went back on attack but the whistle blew when they were inside the Hiku 22.
Joe Waru from Tauranga refereed the game well.
Hikurangi 22 (Loni Fisiihoi 2, Billy Manuel tries; Kris Palmer 2 con) TVC 18 (Joey Ford 2 tries; Manaia Nyman con, 2 pen)
HT: 16-0 (TVC).
Tokararangi v Waiapu
Tokararangi had most of their leading players available when they hosted Hicks Bay on Saturday.
Even player-coach Morgan Wirepa jr, feared to be out for the rest of the season due to a back injury, staged a remarkable recovery and played at No.8.
Waiapu’s strong scrum gained plenty of possession early on and they came close to scoring, but Toka halfback Israel Brown scored the only first-half try. Brown also scored Toka’s second and last try early in the second half.
Waiapu came back later in the game, and Grayson Mauheni scored.
Tokararangi 12 (Israel Brown 2 tries) Waiapu 6 (Grayson Mauheni try).
HT: 6-0 (Tokararangi).
Ruatoria City v Hicks Bay
Ruatoria City travelled to Kawakawa Domain to take on Hicks Bay, who started hard and had a positive first 20 minutes.
The game see-sawed in the rain but City used their backline well, with useful kicking by Roha Dalton-Reedy resulting in two tries.
Jayden Milner scored City’s first try after 20 minutes, followed 15 minutes later by Wiremu Ngatai’s first try.
The second half was scoreless for 20 minutes.
Then referee Harawira Matahiki awarded City a penalty try after Corey Walker was tackled without the ball close to the line, City manager Lorne Boyce-Goldsmith said.
Boyce-Goldsmith also said Jeremiah Mataira played an impressive defending role for City “with an unreal tackle rate, stopping Hicks Bay’s big players in their tracks”.
Ngatai’s second try for City closed their tally, while Sean Murtagh and Kazius Unuwai-Delamere scored for Hicks Bay, with a conversion by Wayne Young.
Ruatoria City 26 (Wiremu Ngatai 2, Jayden Milner tries, penalty try) Hicks Bay 14 (Sean Murtagh, Kazius Unuwai-Delamere tries; Wayne Young con).
HT: 12-0 (City).
