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RUGBY
Te Ratu Walker, Phoenix Pardoe-Crosby, Charlie Bennett, Brandon Rance, David Gray: bear them in mind.
A Horouta fullback, OBM first five-eighth, Ngatapa second-five, High School Old Boys tighthead prop and Pirates No.8, they all represent the great crop of talent coming through in the Poverty Bay under-13 weight-restricted club rugby competition.
All bar Rance were on deck this morning — HSOB had the bye. Horouta versus Ngatapa and Pirates v OBM were the games at Waikirikiri Park.
Last Saturday, The Waka’s MVP (most valuable player) — Walker — scored the first try of his team’s 65-12 win against OBM at Waikirikiri Park, in the fifth minute of play. His compatriots, hooker Rylin Rasmussen (ninth minute), blindside flanker Makaia Allen (12th minute) and goal-kicking openside flanker Elijah Kaui (14th minute) helped him give Horouta a 22-point lead, Kaui having converted Allen’s try.
OBM second-five Levi Hune put his team on the board 17 minutes into the game.
Horouta centre Sonny Tairakena (21st minute), Allen (try No.2 of his hat-trick, 25th minute) and Kaui (try No.2 of his hat-trick, 29th minute) gave Horouta a 37-5 lead at the break.
Kaui led Horouta’s second-half charge, converting his own hat-trick try in the 34th minute for 44-5. Reserve left wing Taina Para scored in the 45th minute for 49-5 and No.8 Maia Campbell’s try (48th minute) put Horouta 54-5.
OBM openside flanker Dale Kernohan surged across the line for a try that was converted by Hune to make it 54-12.
Allen brought up his hat-trick in the 54th minute and right wing Isaiah Reiri capped Horouta’s great win with a try 20 seconds from fulltime.
Horouta coach Rob Kora said that having assistant coach Evan Mita to help him this year had been “awesome”.
“We’re very proud of the boys,” Kora said.
“They’re conceding fewer penalties each week and playing with discipline.”
Keep it coming.
The second game between High School Old Boys and Ngatapa this season was a beauty.
On May 10, Ngatapa won 19-12 at Waikirikiri Park and second time up they took the honours again, 22-12.
The rivalry in these games makes for great rugby; coaches play a pivotal role in that.
High School Old Boys’ Gus Heuser said: “The kids love it — playing, gelling with and lifting each other, encouraging their teammates. Guys are showing leadership.”
Good defence kept a close tether on attack in the first half of the latest clash.
Ngatapa, a side with talented backs, led 12-0 at the break by virtue of tries to No.8 Fergus Tomlinson (20th minute) and halfback Hamish Swann (25th minute). Swann’s try was converted by blindside flanker William Matthews. Lock Ben Langford was MVP for Ngatapa, impressing coach Matt Evans with his work ethic and commitment.
HSOB forward MVP was Jasher Evans while their backs MVP was John James Delamere-Fisher.
HSOB made a strong start to the second half with a try to hooker Jasher Evans at the 35th minute. From a ruck five metres out from Ngatapa’s goal-line, five metres to the left of the posts, Evans powered through defenders to score. In the 40th minute, Ngatapa left wing Angus Allen flew in to score for 17-5 but HSOB right wing Sean Penfold — recipient of a magic pass from centre Kasey Ormsby — ran 20m to score in the 50th minute.
It was then that fullback Maxwell Kennedy made perhaps the quick-thinker’s play of the weekend while attempting the conversion 10m off the right touch, on the 22. As he came in, the ball slipped off the tee. Kennedy scooped up the ball and kicked a drop goal (as opposed to place-kick) over the heads of Ngatapa’s chase crew to close it to 17-12.
The game hung in the balance until the 60th minute, when Ngatapa reserve loosehead prop Dylan Torrie — a player with grit and rugby sense — scored the match-clinching try for 22-12.