A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.
Saturday, July 11: Waiapu’s loss, and Hicks Bay’s 37-26 victory over Tawhiti, means next Saturday’s semifinals will be between Hikurangi and Hicks Bay at Ruatoria, and Uawa and Tokararangi at Te Araroa Domain.
The Uawa-Waiapu clash was yet another typically close East Coast game, only decided when the final whistle went.
It was scoreless for the first 20 minutes, although the Uawa pack suffered in scrums and rucks at the hands of their substantially larger opponents. The lineouts were more even, helped by the fact that it was a still day and the rain held off.
Waiapu had the better of possession, and spent periods camped on the Uawa line in a pick-and-go pattern. Captain Tripoli Poi led from the front, and nearly managed to break through in one burst.
Frank Manuel, Pakanga Te Whitu, Jason Little and Richie Green were other Waiapu forwards to impress at this time.
After 25 minutes, Waiapu No.8 Te Miini Kohere-Smiler scored following a penalty, but centre BJ Sidney soon levelled the scores with a try for Uawa.
Waiapu scored the only other points of the first half, with a try by second five-eighth Ngata Mauhini, converted by Tojo Maaka, giving Waiapu a 12-5 lead at halftime.
Both sets of backs had useful games, though recent rain made the ball a bit slippery and some crucial passes were dropped. Maaka was pivot for the Waiapu line, and his combination with Mauhini led to plenty of territory gains.
Uawa centre Jessie Saywell came off with injured ribs halfway through the first spell and was replaced by Renata Sadlier, who came in at first five-eighth and had a big influence on the home team’s comeback in the second half.
Sadlier demonstrated yet again that he has a good eye for a break, the speed and beef to storm through it and sound judgement about which sector of the line to move the ball to.
Uawa started the second 40 strongly. Captain Sam Parkes took a tap penalty near the line, and passed to BJ Sidney, who took the tackle and flipped the ball over the top to Sadlier, who dotted down in the corner right in front of the vocal Uawa crowd.
Parkes was next to score, following a 40-metre sprint down the sideline. Sadlier converted and Uawa were in front 17-12.
Waipu had not given up, and there were impressive individual runs, though many of their bigger men were down to a walk.
This gave the Uawa forwards more traction, though Dan Knubley, Wyntah Riki, James Brennan, Scott Lasenby and Rikki Kernohan all put their hearts into it from the start.
Uawa 25-year veteran Waldo Horomia added fire, stability and substance ? when he came on as prop in the second half.
With 20 minutes to go, the game was still even, and could have gone either way until Uawa centre BJ Sidney added his second try of the day, also converted by Sadlier.
Sidney gave a standout performance, as did Jordan Birch and Storm Moran. Uawa were on the receiving end of a high penalty count, particularly in the rucks.
Referee Whetu Haerewa penalised infringements that included offside, coming in on the wrong side and not releasing. However, Haerewa said he was impressed with the way both sides managed their scrums, setting up well and being ready to go.
Waiapu lost three players to the sin-bin — two off for 10 minutes at one stage in the second half — and this helped Uawa’s comeback.
Right on fulltime, Waiapu’s Jordan Waru scored a try, converted by Tojo Maaka, making the final score 24-19.
Uawa 24 (BJ Sidney 2, Sam Parkes, Renata Sadlier tries; Sadlier 2 con) Waiapu 19 (Te Miini Kohere-Smiler, Ngata Mauhini, Jordan Waru tries; Tojo Maaka 2 con).
CarelessnessTo paraphrase Oscar Wilde, “To give away one penalty try may be regarded as misfortune; to give away two in one game is carelessness”.
Yet that is what Hicks Bay did at Tokomaru Bay on Saturday, and Tawhiti reaped the benefit, but Hicks Bay still won, 37-26.
Hicks Bay manager Graeme Summersby conceded that both were fair enough: “The first one came in the first 10 minutes when Tawhiti were on attack out wide and going for the corner. The ball carrier was grounded in an illegal tackle.
“In the second half, Tawhiti were mauling close to the Hicks Bay line, and the maul was pulled to the ground in a manner that ref Chris Wanoa ruled as dangerous.”
In both halves, Hicks Bay drew ahead and Tawhiti fought back in the second 20. Co-coach Damon Bellamy said there was no problem with the skill and effort going in, but Tawhiti often rushed things at the last minute, not slowing down to finish things off.
Tawhiti’s tight five, with Horace Lewis and his son Caleb locking the scrum, have been a central strength for the team. Caleb scored one of Tawhiti’s tries.
For Hicks Bay the game was another milestone in their relentless late run to the semifinals. The forwards had another strong game, and the backs worked well together.
Coach Tyrone Delamere has calmly fixed problems during the season, and seems to have his team peaking at the right time — Hikurangi will find out just how good they are next Saturday.
Hicks Bay 37 (Nathan Miller, Sean Murtagh, Jim Hovell, Rihara Moeke, Leyth Delamere tries; Leyth Delamere 3 con, 2 pen) Tawhiti 26 (penalty tries 2, Caleb Lewis, Petera Smith tries; Junior Piri 3 con).
Tokararangi defeated Tokomaru Bay by default.