Mountain men make mighty start to Coast Premier rugby competition

Will Tokarangi look back on Game 1 of the Ngāti Porou East Coast Premier Men’s club rugby competition as one that got away from them?

Time will tell ater Cape Runaway’s Tihirau Victory Club beat them 15-12 in the season-opening Club Day at Whakarua Park, Ruatoria, in an excellent contest after leading 10-5 at the break.

It was an even match in terms of territory and possession, but TVC outscored their opponents three tries to two.

The feeling — and Tokararangi could see it as a positive one — may persist that they had the winning of this game, because a great club who did not field a men’s side last season had come within three points of the defending champions.

Tokararangi opened the scoring in the sixth minute following a superb build-up.

TVC set a scrum on Tokararangi’s 22, the latter took a tighthead and then carried the ball hard right twice.

From the next ruck, Tokararangi went the other way through Teina Potae before centre Pamona Samupo released left-wing James Warnock on the fly and he scored in the corner (5-0).

His try was not converted.

TVC needed to hit back and did so a quarter of an hour in.

A penalty awarded by referee Eruera Kawhia saw the ball tap-kicked and loosehead prop Hoani Te Moana muscle over to score in the left corner.

TVC doubled their points in the 24th minute when burly lock Frank Henderson was shunted over in the left corner from a lineout drive and they went into the break up 10-5.

In between the changes of score, Tokararangi and TVC played strong, basic rugby. They were physical and committed with ball in hand and in the tackle.

TVC extended their lead in the 53rd minute.

From a penalty tap 5m out and a metre to the right of the posts, Te Moana powered towards the try line. He was put down, but from the clearing pass to fullback Verdon Bartlett and No.8 Haimona Waititi’s sweetly timed assist to left-wing Whitiora Park, TVC went over for their third try and a 15-5 lead.

Tokararangi’s response was “if at first you don’t succeed, try and try again”.

Having conceded a free kick at halfway off the right touch, Tokararangi brought Te Moana down, toed the ball upfield, Warnock took two epic shoulder shots and finally Israel Brown scored 6m to the left of the posts. Captain Rapata Haerewa converted Brown’s try for 15-12, where the score remained.

■ The men of the mountain made a mighty start on opening day.

Hikurangi, who last won the Coast club title in 2016, scored seven tries in a 45-12 win against welcome returnees Waima.

Waima could be well pleased in putting their first points on the board and their first tries up for 2023 in the club’s return to action.

They did all of their scoring in the first half but the Maunga’s big guns — with No.8 Te Mana Barbarich, who scored two tries, and fullback Kris Palmer prominent among them — never relented.

Hikurangi were severely tested by Waipu (10-all  draw) in their first appearance of the season last year, so can be well-pleased with the start they have made to 2023 under Palmer.