King Country in rampant form

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

RUGBY

A RAMPANT King Country were too strong for Ngati Porou East Coast in the opening game of their Heartland Championship rugby season at Te Kuiti on Saturday.

King Country’s 11-tries-to-three, 75-17 victory means the Rams join Poverty Bay and Mid Canterbury at the top of the table after all three picked up bonus points for scoring four or more tries in Round 1 of the competition.

“We held our own at set pieces but they had too much pace out wide and that’s going to be a major concern heading into this week’s match against Horowhenua Kapiti (who lost 30-24 to Mid Canterbury at Foxton),” co-coach Wayne Ensor said.

“They used the overlap really well and we didn’t help ourselves, turning the ball over in crucial areas. We had loads of possession but it seemed like every time we turned it over they scored.

“One example was when, after we lost possession, their guy put in a huge punt downfield, which looked like it was going to roll over our dead-ball line. That would have taken play a long way back.

“But the ball stopped just before going over the dead-ball line and the guy following up dived on it.

“King Country obviously deserved to win — the score tells you that — but we had some glimpses of good play.”

Apart from replacement halfback CJ Fox, who dislocated his shoulder only minutes after coming on.

Mid Canterbury have done the Coast no favours, beating Horowhenua at home.

They will be coming to Ruatoria determined to kickstart their campaign and looking for a bonus-point win.

Although on the losing team, Coast skipper and No.8 Hone Haerewa, openside flanker Jack Richardson (one try), tighthead prop Hakarangi Tichborne (2 tries) and hooker Wyntah Riki played well.

King Country 75 (Declan Barnett 3, Dean Church 3, Sam Warden, Shilo Cullen, Alex Thrupp, Evans Reihana, Ratu Vosaki tries; Reihana 7 con, 2 pen).

East Coast 17 (Jack Richardson, Hakarangi Tichborne 2 tries; Ngarangi Haerewa con). HT: 30-7.