OBM off and running

OBM captain and first five-eighth Jake Holmes posts the first points in a 47-14 win against Tapuae in a premier rugby game at the Oval on Saturday. Holmes capped an outstanding game with five conversions. Picture by Paul Rickard

Enterprise Cars OBM gave Tom Solomon and Keith Henderson a winning start to their premier rugby coaching careers with a 47-14 win aganst Tapuae at the Oval.

New skipper Jake Holmes opened the scoring with a try after 10 minutes and kicked the first of his five conversions as OBM, playing their first game in the competition this season, started strongly.

With the OBM forwards — led by vice-captain and tighthead prop Lance Dickson — in superb form, OBM continued to take the game to Tapuae.

But the men from Wairoa defended well and it wasn’t until the 22nd minute that OBM increased their lead through a try to blindside flanker Te Otene Ria, following a lineout and quick ball out the back.

Holmes added the conversion and made it three from three when he drilled the ball between the posts after lock Juston Allen crossed for his first try since transferring from Pirates.

Tapuae second five-eighth Carlos Carroll got his side on the scoreboard with a penalty, and OBM went to the halftime break 21-3 ahead.

Two minutes after the restart, Dickson extended the lead with the bonus-point try, converted by Holmes. Seven minutes later it was 33-3 after winger Deni Caucau dotted down, and OBM threatened to run riot.

However, Tapuae hit back in the 58th minute with a try to tighthead prop Te Kopua Rewi, converted by Carroll.

A penalty try to OBM, followed by a converted try to Semsi Taginetawa pushed OBM out to a 47-10 lead with 10 minutes to play.

Tapuae refused to throw in the towel and Te Kopua Rewi capped an outstanding game with a try in the corner.

Although not on the scoresheeet, OBM utility back Reeftahn Brown-Terekia showed glimpses of class as his forwards gave the backs plenty of front-foot ball.

While disappointed with a second loss, Tapuae coach Frank King said, “We started well and finished well; we just have to get the middle part right.”

Centre Daniel Hartley was another to earn King’s approval.

“It was his first game at centre and he played well,” King said.

“Andrew Mitchell (No.8) and Fagan Waimoana, in his first time at fullback, also played well.”

OBM 47 (penalty try, J Holmes, L Dickson, D Caucau, J Allen, J Holmes, S Taginetawa tries; J Holmes 5 con, automatic conversion for penalty try).

Tapuae 15 (TK Rewi, J Fatafeui tries; C Carroll con, pen).

Halftime: 21-3.

YMP bounced back from their first-round loss to Ngatapa with a 48-14 victory over Athletic at Rugby Park.

Centre Te Peehi Fairlie was the star of the show, scoring three tries and having a hand in others in the eight tries-to-two win.

“You have to hand it to Athletic,” YMP coach Steve Smith said.

“They didn’t have a full squad available but kept putting their bodies on the line.

“They scored a couple of good tries using the pick-and-go and it wasn’t until late in the game the gaps opened up. Before that we had to work hard for our points.”

Athletic coach Jimmy Whaitiri said he had three players ruled out after injuries in training.

“I can’t fault the effort from the boys who travelled up for the game,” he said.

“And if you went into the changing rooms now you wouldn’t believe we’d lost. They are all keen to keep going and learn.

“Once again our captain Kurt Taylor (first five-eighth) was our player of the day.

“Jesse Kapene (back) and tighthead prop Alex Little got the two points and one point respectively.”

Smith said hooker Shayde Skudder, lock Luke Bradley and halfback Quinnton Pare-Collier played well. Jacob Leaf, who scored two tries, was another to stand out.

“Shayde was everywhere and into everything” Smith said.

“Luke brings physicality and Quinnton is a young player with a lot of potential.”

YMP 48 (TP Fairlie 3, J Leaf 2, R Wyllie, Q Pare-Collier, D Wilson tries; B Whaitiri-White 4 con).

Athletic 14 (A Little, K Taylor tries; K Taylor 2 con).

HT: 21-0.