No winning 100th for Waikohu

Waikohu stalwart 'Starr' Rutene, back in the day. File picture

TRIES to man of the match Sione Ngatu and Anthony Karauria, both converted by Pete Livingston, helped Ngatapa gatecrash Waikohu’s 100-year celebrations at Te Karaka on Saturday. Larsawn Ngatapa won 16-12 but dropped from second spot to third on the premier table after OBM’s 116-0 annihilation of Pirates at the Oval.

Aon Waikohu’s bonus point from losing by eight points or less moved them to within two points of fourth-placed YMP, who lost 32-14 to High School Old Boys at Rugby Park.

The sides clash at Manutuke on Saturday and YMP could find themselves up against former All Black Rico Gear and former New Zealand Maori All Black Jake Paringatai, who both came on in the second half against Ngatapa.

“Both signed for us before the transfer deadline but business commitments meant they were unable to play for us before this game,” said Waikohu coach Tahi Hiroki, a cousin of Gear. “We weren’t sure how many games we’d get from them but having players of this calibre involved can only be good for our guys.

“Rico came on at halftime at centre and Jake came on midway through the last 40 at lock before moving to blindside. It’s great to have them and we’re hoping they can play against YMP, but I won’t know until later in the week.”

'The forwards laid the platform'Ngatapa were not surprised at the Waikohu effort on Saturday.

“With Waikohu having their 100th and having the tangi of Starr (Te Whetu Rutene) on Wednesday, we always knew this would be a huge game for us,” Ngatapa assistant coach Josh Willoughby said. “We were expecting them to do a haka before the game, which they did, and for their forwards, who don’t need any extra motivation, to fire up.

“Our focus was on our forwards giving us a good start to the game, and they did, led by Sione (flanker), Paddy Allen (loosie), Semisi Akana (lock) and Moses Mau (No.8). The forwards laid the platform.”

Ngatu, playing only his second game since he suffered a hand injury before the opening game of the season, scored the first try after 10 minutes.

“Sione took the ball off the back of the scrum and smashed his way over.”

Although Ngatapa continued to dominate, Waikohu closed the gap in the 35th minute through a try to their player of the day, No.8 Tapu Dixon.

“That hurt, but the boys showed great character by hitting back from the restart,” Willoughby said. “We secured possession and strung a few phases together before Anthony (Karauria, midfielder) went though a hole to score.”

Livingston, who moved from midfield to the wing for this game, converted and Ngatapa took a 16-6 lead into halftime.

Waikohu apply pressure after halftimeWilloughby’s instructions during the break were “not to sit on the lead . . . to go out and score more points”.

Waikohu had other plans and closed the gap with an unconverted try to loosehead prop Toru Noanoa five minutes in.

“Waikohu were all over us in the second half,” Willoughby said. “We didn’t help ourselves by making mistakes and turning the ball over, but that was also due to the pressure Waikohu applied. Their forwards really stepped up. We held them out and created some chances of our own but their defence was up to the challenge.”

Ngatapa played 10 of the last 15 minutes with 14 men after Mau was sin-binned.

“Again, the boys stood up and in the end it was a good four points,” said Willoughby, whose side are unbeaten in seven straight games after losing five matches in round 1.

'Would have loved to win for Starr'Hiroki said he was disappointed with the loss but proud of his players.

“I believe it was a game we could have won but credit to Ngatapa. They’re a well-organised team who defended well. We would have loved to win for Starr but I know he would have been proud of the way the boys played. Ngatapa joined in our celebrations after the match. It was great to see both sets of players mixing and great to see a lot of former players praising the team for the way they played.

“Young TK Tane (19) is getting better with every game at lock. He can play loosie but he’s maturing as a lock. Ra Marshall played first five-eighth and controlled the game well for us, and Mario (Counsell, halfback) was his usual self. He keeps the boys going, encouraging them and always being positive.”

NGATAPA 16 (Sione Ngatu, Anthony Karauria tries; Pete Livingtson 2 con).

WAIKOHU 12 (Tapu Dixon, Toru Noanoa tries).

HT: 16-6 (Nga).