Uawa played strongly in their 31-10 win against Hikurangi at Kahuitara on Saturday. The latter defended their home soil with fire and spirit to the last.
It was a timely triumph for The Awa (River), who had the bye last weekend — and whose every run-in with The Maunga (Mountain) is a bruise-fest — a fortnight before the semifinals.
Uawa were purposeful and worked hard against the hosts, whose bigger forward pack won three tightheads at scrum-time in the first half and 95 percent of their own lineout ball overall.
Uawa coach Chris Richardson was pleased with his team's strong showing.
“We played very well and have played good rugby in our past three games,” Richardson said.
“Some things we've tried to do are working and so we just need to keep improving as a team.”
Uawa captain and tighthead prop Scott Lasenby — who in 2018 and 2019 held aloft the Rangiora Keelan Memorial Shield, symbol of club supremacy on the Coast — was his team's MVP (most valuable player).
He spoke with feeling of the Hikurangi forwards' physicality, and complimented both teams on the quality of their play and the excellent contribution of referee Eruera Kawhia, who let the game flow.
Lasenby won the toss for the first time this season and chose an end. Hikurangi kicked off on an overcast, windless day in front of about 400 spectators.
Uawa halfback Sam Parkes scored in the 18th minute of a first half in which The Maunga met the visitors' every advance bar two with a muscular stop. First five-eighth Josh Dearden's conversion gave Uawa a 7-0 lead and six minutes before the break, classy centre BJ Sidney cut the try-line for a halftime score of 12-0.
Uawa continued to monopolise possession and control field position after the restart. Imposing No.8 Patrick Allen scored the visitors' third try 54 minutes in for 17-0. No conversion followed.
The Maunga tackled hard, ran hard, competed in all phases of play throughout, and got on the scoreboard in the 56th minute with a penalty goal to fullback Kayleb Walker for a score of 17-3.
In the 71st minute, centre Billy Manuel's hard-earned try for the home team — plus a conversion by Walker — made a game of it as Hikurangi came within striking distance of Uawa at 17-10.
That the Matt Richards-coached Hikurangi had, against quality opposition, conceded just 17 points in 71 minutes is proof of their durability.
Assistant coach Drummond Morice said the men of the mountain had more than their fair share of possession and territory in the first half, but midway through the second half the Awa's fitness, skill-level and structure came into play.
That Uawa could, with the game in the balance, remain calm and close it out as they did, is a credit to their nerve.
Uawa left-wing-cum-centre George Shields (75th minute) and super-substitute reserve left wing Hemokai Aupouri-Akuhata — who scored on fulltime — were the last to dot down. Dearden converted both late tries for 31-10.
Hicks Bay had taken a bow or two before Week 6 in Round 2.
And the Sean Murtagh-led side gave the local faithful yet more reason to toast the club with their 22-17 win against Ruatoria City on Saturday.
Hicks Bay were 15-7 in front of the visitors at halftime and finally outscored them by three tries to two on an overcast day, with more than 200 hardy souls in attendance.
City's game-day captain and loosehead prop Pera Bishop — deputising for the injured Jack Richardson (left knee and right shoulder) — won the toss and chose to play into a strong nor'wester.
The mercurial Murtagh opened the scoring at Kawakawa mai Tawhiti with a try in the 11th minute. First-five Irie Noanoa converted his skipper's grand effort. In the 19th minute, Noanoa kicked a penalty goal to give the home team a 10-0 lead.
City responded with urgency. Goal-kicking No.8 Nathaniel Fox scored, then converted his own try in the 27th minute to close it to 10-7. Home team right wing Tiera Brown-Biddle dotted down in the 36th minute to put Hicks Bay up 15-7, with no conversion for the try.
After the resumption, both teams doubled their defensive effort. Physicality across the park was the order of the day. City centre Jayden Milner scored the first try of the second half 64 minutes in, and Fox's conversion cut the hosts' lead to one point.
In the 72nd minute — from just over halfway, centrefield — Fox landed a remarkable penalty goal to give the visitors their first lead of the game, at 17-15 to Ruatoria City.
But Hicks Bay would not let it go. They refused to concede. And on fulltime — from an attacking scrum set 10 metres away from the City goal-line, 15m off the right touch — big Hicks Bay No.8 Anton King made an unstoppable charge. His try in the corner was converted by Fox for 22-17.
City have played well this season and rose to the occasion again on Saturday. Their MVP, fullback “Lethal” Leethan Tipene-Rawiri, looked dangerous every time he touched the ball.
City were finally undone by King, one of club rugby's strongest men, who — like Brown-Biddle — had carried the ball well throughout.
Murtagh and second-five Te Whetu Waitoa were solid for Hicks Bay in the midfield; their MVP, lock Tauiri Carlson (in the middle of the lineout), and blindside flanker Frank Taiapa (jumping at the front), were equally as effective for the home team.
Hicks Bay coach Aaron King cited the willingness to work as a strength of his team on the day.
“We just kept plodding along,” he said.
“Aaron Reedy, our starting tighthead prop, gave us a good half, Josh King came on as loosehead prop at halftime for Manahi Brooking. Both sides took one tighthead each at scrum-time.
“I'm stoked with our young boys, too — they've all put in 100 percent.”
A report on the Tokararangi-Tokomaru Bay United game will follow.
