Great way to finish

TOP PLAY: Ngati Porou East Coast hooker Jorian Tangaere, here in action against South Canterbury, received the team’s “Kaupoi” (cowboy) award for his game against Wairarapa-Bush in Masterton on Saturday. The Coast won 34-19.Paul Rickard picture

A dream becomes a goal with planning and hard work.

And so Ngati Porou East Coast — who beat Wairarapa-Bush 34-19 in Masterton on Saturday, and Poverty Bay 31-28 in Gisborne the week before — might have pinched themselves after nine years without tasting victory back-to-back.

The Sky Blues’ first three-win campaign in the Heartland Championship since 2013 began in Oamaru with an eight-point loss, and ended in Masterton with a six-tries-to-three triumph.

NPEC captain Hone Haerewa has led an iconic team rejuvenated, if not reborn, by example this year. He spoke of the 2021 side’s last match-effort.

“The grind, hard work and commitment that went into it all behind the scenes was of a high standard, so I’m glad that we were able to put that out on the pitch as well,” said the blindside flanker, whose crew have been in accord with head coach Hosea Gear’s mission: to restore the mana (value) of the Sky Blue jersey.

“I’m glad we were able to do that.”

From Australia, Hosea Gear shared in the moment.

“We achieved what we wanted to,” he said. “We’re not easy-beats any more.”

Gear’s coaching opposite Mark Rutene — whose second stint in charge of the green-and-reds began with a 43-point loss to the Hawke’s Bay Saracens on Queen’s Birthday Weekend — is an advocate for positive, running rugby.

“It was a good, open game but we just couldn’t catch them,” he said.

“The Coast’s defence stood up well, too, especially in the second half.”

Sam Gammie played for West Coast in 2012 and is in his sixth season with the Bush. He is a paid-up member of the Front-rowers’ Union, and has played lock and flanker. On Saturday he was at No.8. The Wairarapa-Bush captain knows who can do what.

Gammie said: “I thought Ngati Porou played well tactically, and to their strengths. We had good periods on attack but made too many basic errors, and missed too many tackles.”

On a cool day in overcast conditions, Gammie won the toss and chose an end. NPEC played with a southerly breeze at their backs, and opted to kick off on the astroturf.

The Sky Blues opened the scoring in spectacular fashion three minutes into the game, through their hooker Jorian Tangaere.

From a lineout set 10 metres from the left corner at the Coast’s end of the ground, the NPEC rake hit Haerewa at No.6 and joined the ensuing drive as the NPEC pack went 10m. Tangaere put the ball down eight metres wide of the goalposts.

There followed an extraordinary and hilarious situation: both Bush assistant referees (Alistair Payne, in his 50th first-class game, and Chris Jefferies, in his 66th), raised their flags but Otago official Fraser Hannon (fifth first-class game) waved first five-eighth Te Rangi Fraser’s conversion attempt away.

It is worth noting here that the man with the whistle is the sole judge of law, fact, score and time.

Seventeen minutes in, Coast halfback Sam Parkes scored. From a lineout at halfway on the left touch, NPEC lock Trent Boswell-Wakefield beat opposition second-rower Dominic Herlihy to claim Bush ball at No.2, off hooker Henry Wilson’s throw. The ball then went through five sets of hands to the far sideline before right wing Tawhao Stewart picked up a tough pass on the bounce — without breaking stride — then got the ball inside to Parkes.

Parkes, in his best season for the Sky Blues, scored five metres to the right of the posts. The referees agreed that Fraser’s conversion attempt had been successful: the Coast led 12-0.

From a lineout on the right touch, set 15m on the Bush’s side of halfway, NPEC’s Haerewa scored in the 20th minute.

The Sky Blues’ skipper soared at No.4, won the lineout, went left for a ruck, then back right, before Haerewa made a startling, 26m burst off the sideline to score two metres to the right of the posts. Fraser converted for 19-0.

The home team then scored in the 28th minute, a try to their loosehead prop and strongman Tupou Lea’aemanu. Bush lock Andrew McLean, up at No.3, won an attacking lineout set 15m from glory on the right touch. The Bush then pounded the ball upfield eight times before Lea’aemanu burrowed in, a metre to the right of the posts.

Fullback Tipene Haira, in his 50th appearance for the hosts, converted Lea’aemanu’s effort to close it to 19-7.

There followed a riotous passage in which Fraser was shown the yellow card by referee Hannon, Wairarapa-Bush left wing Fiula Tameilua was held up over the goal-line, and Tameilua — from a Bush lineout drive in the right corner — lost the ball forward in the act of scoring.

Halftime in this most entertaining game arrived with the score still 19-7.

Three minutes after the resumption, NPEC left wing Ngarohi McGarvey-Black showed a touch of class in scoring the fifth try of the match.

The Bush kicked off, fielded a return-kick from Coast second-five Ma’a Nonu, and put together seven phases of play before turning the ball over midfield in their opponents’ half. The Sky Blues immediately attacked the left flank. McGarvey-Black shot down the sideline, over halfway, and then turned Bush centre Tafa Tafa around with a kick-and-chase at the 22. The former All Black Sevens flyer beat Tafa to the ball to score 16m infield.

It was a thrilling injection of pure pace with a finish to wow the crowd.

NPEC led 24-7 — there being no conversion — but in the 50th minute, Tafa took his revenge.

The Coast were awarded a penalty 10m out from their goal-line. Vice-captain Parkes (in the absence of Haerewa through injury) chose to tap-kick the ball and go right to Stewart. Bush second-five Inia Katia made up the mandatory 10m in startling fashion, stuck Stewart with a copybook tackle and Tafa picked up the loose ball to score just to the left of the posts.

The left-footed Haira converted Tafa’s try and it was 24-14, NPEC still leading.

One minute later, Nonu was replaced by another All Black legend in Rico Gear. Following the restart of play, a loose pass midfield saw the ball go loose and Gear give chase.

The 43-year-old got fingertips to the ball but was ruled not to have scored.

Parkes scored the game’s seventh try at the 57-minute mark.

The green-and-reds were awarded a scrum-feed five metres out from their own goal-line. They cleared a ruck and kicked downfield. Coast fullback Hamuera Moana took the ball in his own half and sparked a counter-attack. Parkes was the sixth Sky Blue player to handle the ball. He was brought down at the goal-line, released the ball, then got to his feet to dot down for 29-14.

No conversion resulted, but the Bush then ramped things up in the 63rd minute. At an attacking lineout 12m out from the right corner, reserve tighthead prop/thrower Terongo Tekii hit openside flanker Ryan Knell at No.7. From the ensuing drive, the home team’s powerhouse reserve blindside flanker Matt Masoe scored in the corner.

The Bush had scored their last point to close it to 29-19, but in the 80th minute NPEC sealed the deal.

From an attacking scrum at the 22, five metres off the right touch, the Sky Blues retained and recycled possession over nine phases before Stewart scored just to the left of the posts.

It was a great display of skill and determination on fulltime.

Gear was given the last kick at goal; after his attempt, the score remained 34-19.

The “Kaupoi” (cowboy) for the Coast was Tangaere and the MVP (most valuable player) for Wairarapa-Bush was Lea’aemanu.

NPEC chairman Val Morrison was well pleased with the Coast’s performance, their fifth win against Wairarapa-Bush since 1976, and only their second away win at Masterton.

The Sky Blues last beat the green-and-reds 33-15 at Whakarua Park in Ruatoria 10 years ago.

With this result, NPEC edged West Coast out for eighth spot and Wairarapa-Bush finish the season 10th of 12 teams, ahead of winless Buller and King Country.

Morrison said: “I’m very proud of the whole squad, not only for what they’ve achieved on the field, but also for the leaders they’ve become off it as well.

“Hosea introduced three things about which I thought ‘good luck with that’ — but the boys all bought into the culture of training hard, watching their diet, and no alcohol.

“The mindset change was a joy to witness.”

Unbeaten South Canterbury will host Thames Valley at 3.35pm this Sunday for the Meads Cup, Whanganui are at home to North Otago at 1.05pm for the Lochore Cup and Poverty Bay face Mid-Canterbury at Rugby Park in Gisborne at 2.05pm for the newly minted Bill Osborne Shield, so named for All Black No.744, second-five, centre and current New Zealand Rugby president.