“I don’t really want to say what was said but I’m expecting a better effort next week,” Solomon said.
Although well beaten on the scoreboard, OBM can take positives from a game in which their forwards strung together phases, especially in the first 40 into a strong wind.
No.8 Jody Allen, twin brother Juston (lock), Jacob Cook (lock) and openside flanker Evan Bryant were prominent.
Halfback Willy Grogan, playing his first game since returning from holiday in Ireland, second five-eighth Keith Henderson and fullback Scotty McKinley also played their parts in taking the game to Waikohu.
However, whenever OBM turned over the ball though a sloppy pass or wrong option, they were punished to the tune of first-half tries to fullback Ethine Reeves (2), halfback Mario Counsell, hooker Geoff Pari and lock Richard Green.
Reeves kicked four conversions for a 33-0 halftime lead.
With the wind at their backs, OBM reduced the deficit with an intercept try to replacement hooker Rikki Terekia in the 44th minute.
Bring it onTwo minutes later, Jody Allen scored one of the tries of the season.
Receiving the ball 35 metres from the tryline, he ran over three tacklers, swatted away another and shrugged off another before dotting down between the posts.
Centre John Jones converted and OBM had their tails up.
They pinned Waikohu inside their 22 and came close to closing the gap further. But just when it looked like OBM were going to make a match of it, Waikohu, as they have done so often this season, struck back with an opportunist try in the 63rd minute.
OBM lost a lineout on the halfway line. Counsell pounced, making ground, then passing to loosehead prop Jarryd Broughton, who carried on the move and offloaded to Smith to finish off.
Reeves’ conversion took the score to 40-14.
Two minutes later, winger KC Wilson scored to make it 45-14.
Waikohu 45 (E Reeves 2, M Counsell, G Pari, R Green, K Smith, KC Wilson tries; E Reeves, 5 con).
OBM 14 (R Terekia, Jody Allen tries; D Pohatu con, J Jones con).
HT: 33-0 (Waikohu).
