Lessons all over the paddock as Coast lick their wounds

OVER THE TOP: LeaderBrand Poverty Bay right winger Carl Riini proves too strong for Ngati Porou East Coast fullback Whakare Henare and gets to the line before replacement halfback Charlie Harrison can get to him in this series of shots taken by Herald photographer Liam Clayton.

NGATI Porou East Coast got off to the worst possible start in the Heartland Championship on Saturday with a 60-15 thumping from LeaderBrand Poverty Bay in Ruatoria.

It wasn’t just the scoreline or the nine-tries-to-three defeat that made it a day to forget for the Sky Blues.

There were lessons all over the paddock they must address before heading to the South Island to play a South Canterbury side smarting from a first-up 34-17 loss to Mid Canterbury.

Losing four players — Richard Apanui, Tanetoa Parata, Riki Waitoa and Pamona Samupo and hooker Kareti Palmer — before the game did not help the Coast.

But, as new coach Willie Waitoa said “that’s no excuse, we should have rolled with the punches.”

One of the biggest lessons — for players and supporters alike — is to stop blaming match officials.

Did the officials make mistakes? Yes, what referee doesn’t?

Did the officials knock the ball on? No.

Did they throw passes to opposition players, including three that resulted in tries? No.

Did they miss tackles? No.

Did they fail to find touch? No.

Did they backchat? No.

The players must also realise that Heartland rugby is not club rugby and they need to address what one spectator aptly described as their “sevens rugby” approach.

It is all very well saying “it’s the way we play on the Coast” but not if it is going to end in a 50-point hiding each week. They need to use the kicking game and save their attacking rugby for inside the opposition 22.

Which is where Apanui comes in.

When the sides clashed in Gisborne on Queen’s Birthday Weekend, Apanui displayed his huge punt, which can put the Coast into good attacking positions.

Sam Parkes, who swapped from halfback to first five on Saturday, was not to blame for the loss. But it was a bit like Aaron Smith taking over from Dan Carter.

Parkes was one of the liveliest Coast players. He scored an opportunist try to level the score at 5-all and was never found wanting when it came to tackling. But he is no Apanui.

If Apanui, who injured his groin before the match, is fit for this weekend and Parkes plays with similar energy, it will be a big plus.

For 30 minutes the Coast dominated territory and possession but it is all about what you do with the ball. The Coast squandered opportunities to score tries in the first half while the Bay gave them a lesson in capitalising on chances.

The Bay were also guilty at times of playing helter-skelter sevens-like rugby and making unforced errors, but they scored some cracking tries. This included winger Carl Riini’s effort in the first half when he finished off a move involving flanker Corban Barbara, halfback Willie Haenga and fullback Tamati Samuels.

Meanwhile, Bay coach Mutu Ngarimu may have unearthed the find of the season in winger-cum-centre Leigh Bristowe, who scored three tries.

“He’s not bad, is he?” said Ngarimu.

It is early days but Ngarimu appears to have recruited well, with former Gisborne Boys’ High back Samuels another standout.

After the Bay pack weathered the early Coast passion, first five general Kahu Tamatea made sure they played in the right areas of the field and got the backline moving with accurate passes.

Such was their impressive opening performance that injured captain and lock Murray Hewson said: “I don’t know how I’m going to get back into the side”.

The Bay can make it two wins on the trot when they play Thames Valley — who lost 36-9 to Wairarapa Bush in their opener — in Gisborne on Saturday.

If their display against the Coast is any indication, local fans won’t want to miss it.