For the visitors, these were testing times but no team with forward leaders of the calibre of loosehead prop Manahi Brooking and a skipper and magic-producing fullback with the class of Shaun Murtagh should ever be without hope at the break.
Hicks Bay knew they had to tighten their belts and they did, conceding just one second-half penalty goal to reserve first-five Benny Haerewa in the 58th minute.
In the 66th minute, Hicks Bay got back into the game with a grand try to former Tokararangi player-coach Israel Brown, whose try was converted by first-five Rapata Haerewa. In the 80th minute, big right wing Teina Potae scored, then converted his own try to wrap up the scoring: TVC 23 Hicks Bay 14.
Referee Jackson Reuben-Swinton controlled the game well. Yellow cards were shown to TVC players two minutes apart in the second half, but these were for technical infractions. Reuben-Swinton and his assistant referees Eruera Kawhia and Ava Pokoati earned praise for their ability to keep up in a fast-paced clash, communicating well as the game was played in good spirit.
Sometimes a good blow-out is what's needed, and 73-14 qualifies as a blow-out.
On Saturday, Ruatoria City recorded their third victory of the season so far — 73-14 against Tokomaru Bay United at Enterprise Cars Whakarua Park.
They had beaten Hicks Bay 38-37 at Kawakawa mai Tawhiti in Wharekahika on May 28 before losing 28-27 at home to Uawa in their next outing.
On June 18, there followed what for the Ian Logan, Llorne Boyce-Goldsmith-coached City was a magic moment: a 26-20 win against arch-rivals Hikurangi at Kahuitara.
All this happened leading up to their 11-try, nine-conversion effort at the weekend. First-five Keenan Kaiwai, right wing James Te Kahika, lock Nathaniel Fox and reserve No.8 Tanetoa Parata all scored doubles, blindside flanker Tuterangi Ngarimu, centre Taiaho White and reserve lock Tim Barbarich also scored. Fox kicked nine conversions, his team having led 26-7 at the break.
Tokomaru Bay United's try-scorers were lock Henry Subtil and fullback Uzziah Parata. Both tries were converted by yet another goal-kicking second-row forward, Codey Ellis.
United chose as their MVP (most valuable player) blindside flanker Sam Thelwall, while for Ruatoria City that honour belonged to reserve Graeme Walker.
Logan said: “This is what we managed to do well against United: retain possession of the ball for long periods and stick to our structure. Doing those things enabled us to get the ball into the right areas of the park, and take our scoring opportunities from there.”
Tihirau Victory Club 23 (Ron-Paul McRoberts 2, Tutere Waenga, tries; Ngarangi Haerewa pen, con, Benny Haerewa pen) Hicks Bay 14 (Israel Brown, Teina Potae, tries; Rapata Haerewa con, Potae con). HT: 20-0.
Ruatoria City 73 (Keenan Kaiwai 2, Tanetoa Parata 2, Nathaniel Fox 2, James Te Kahika 2, Tuterangi Ngarimu, Tim Barbarich, Taiaho White, tries; Fox 9 con) Tokomaru Bay United 14 (Henry Subtil, Uzziah Parata, tries; Codey Ellis 2 con). HT: 26-7.
Hikurangi v Pango Productions Uawa deferred.
Bye: Waiapu.
NPEC MVPs (most valuable players): Moana Mato (Tihirau Victory Club), Te Hiwa Ruha (Hicks Bay), Graeme Walker (Ruatoria City), Sam Thelwall (Tokomaru Bay United).
