“In the forwards, Meke was strong at No.8. He loves to run through, over and around people.”
Smith said YMP left Gisborne with the bare 15.
“Our only reserve, Tony Campbell, came from Napier to play for us. He deserves a special mention.”
Tamatea said it was good to finish on a positive note and he commended the team for their efforts throughout the season despite missing out on the playoffs.
“The attitude and commitment to training has been good all season and it was no different at the weekend,” he said.
“Athletic went into this game with nothing to lose, looking to take one scalp in this last game.
“I told the boys that I wanted one game, that perfect game, where everything comes together.
“With injuries in the first round and players still developing combinations in the second round, it was a season that we’ll take a lot out of.
“It was a season with a lot of positives — no regrets.”
Saturday’s match was a scrappy, forward-dominated encounter. It was a war of attrition for most of the first half and YMP went to the break with a 12-0 lead.
They had to work hard to gain the upper hand up front and, like YMP sides of the past, seized upon opposition errors, as was noted by Athletic captain Brendon Bishop.
“Their structure was good and they capitalised on any mistake we made,” he said. “They’re a very good side on the counter-attack. Passes stuck and they finished well.”
Bishop and Athletic club captain Michael Pickering paid tribute to the fitness and ticker of No.8 Isaac Hikawai, who they said never gave up.
“Isaac was our player of the day,” said Pickering in the absence of Athletic coach Paul Morunga.
Lock Bishop also had a strong game and Pickering made special mention of left-wing Hayden Law.
“Hayden’s a small chap who punches well above his weight. He made some last-ditch, try-saving tackles on Saturday. It was gutsy stuff.”
Bishop said the step up from the Senior 1 grade (which Athletic won last year) was a challenge for most of the squad.
And while they were not able to pick up a win over the season, they came close on occasion — most notably a 24-17 effort against HSOB at Athletic Park and a 31-22 loss to OBM at Rugby Park.
An incorrect draw for the Senior 1 semifinals was intially posted on Poverty Bay Rugby Football Union’s Facebook page. It has since been corrected. The draw is — YMP Bumbles v Nuhaka, Tapuae v Harvest Transport Ngatapa.
