Gisborne’s Waaka stars for Taranaki with 21-point haul

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

RUGBY

FORMER Gisborne Boys’ High School first five- eighth Beaudein Waaka scored 21 of Taranaki’s points in a 26-19 win against Counties Manukau in last night’s Mitre 10 Premiership rugby competition.

Taranaki opened the scoring after four minutes when centre Seta Tamanivalu broke through the Counties defence while still in his own half and the attack was finished off against the scrambling Steelers defence by flanker Lachlan Boshier.

Counties turned down two shots at goal from penalties in the five minutes following that try and they were rewarded for that bravery as Kalolo Tuiloma drove over from the back of a lineout.

On the half-hour mark, the Steelers got their second try with Nigel Ah Wong putting through a searching chip kick that winger Tevita Nabura plucked out of the air, then ran 10 metres to score.

Five minutes before the break, Waaka reduced the gap with a penalty and the teams went in at halftime with Counties leading 12-8.

The Bulls regained the lead with three penalties and a try to Waaka midway through the second half.

Counties winger Toni Pulu then scored six minutes from time to set up a thrilling finish, but it was Taranaki who walked away with the win when Waaka went over for his second, late in the match.

Both teams are in action on Sunday as Taranaki travel to Whangarei to face Northland, while Counties head south to face Hawke’s Bay in Napier.

TARANAKI 26 (B Waaka 2, L Boshier tries; Waaka 3 pen, con).

Counties 19 (K Tuiloma, T Nabura, T Pulu tries; L Fosita con, L Laulala con). — NZ Herald