Perfection in TVC’s sight

WILLIE AWAY: Waiapu loose forward Willie Bolingford, pictured playing for Ngati Porou East Coast against Poverty Bay, will look to continue his strong season in the Coast club rugby grand final against TVC tomorrow. Picture by Paul Rickard

Tihirau Victory Club have had the perfect season — to date.

It is two years since Tokararangi completed their played-7/won-7 campaign with a 13-12 win against Tihirau Victory Club at Te Araroa Domain on August 29, 2020.

Covid-19 restrictions allowed for only 100 spectators where close to 1000 might otherwise have been in.

In 2021 the most diabolical conditions did not deter Uawa's big blue crew — or their hosts TVC, for that matter — from rewarding the faithful on hand with a thriller at Te Kura Mana Maori o Whangaparaoa. Uawa prevailed 11-8, their captain and halfback Sam Parkes kicking a penalty goal from the left touch as the clock wound down in the second period of extra time.

The forecast tomorrow is for overcast conditions and rain, yet despite every rugged element that the weather gods can hurl at the locals, the Enterprise Cars Ngati Porou East Coast club rugby final will return to the same venue, at the same time — 2.30pm — as was the case in 2021.

TVC have won seven out of seven but have also had a postponement, bye and win by default to make settling difficult. Their pattern and self-control have consistently served them well. The Coast boasts some of the liveliest sidelines in the country, but men such as TVC captain and No.8 Hoani Te Moana cannot be deterred.

They can be hit hard in tackles — occasionally they take deep breaths — but they can't, and won't, be distracted.

Their scheduled opening game, a 2021 final replay at Cape Runaway, was postponed and so their 25-11 win against Ruatoria City in Round 2 got the season off to a good start. TVC won the Kath McLean Memorial Cup as winners of the first round and the 1 v 4 semifinal against City 20-15 at home in extra time.

Waiapu, who last won the Rangiora Keelan Memorial Shield against the same opposition at the same venue 10 years ago — 18-15 — have shown tremendous enthusiasm and passion for rugby in 2022.

Their coach, Jesse Haenga, openside flanker in the Waiapu side of 2012, remembers the sea of black and orange that greeted him and his teammates at that year's semifinal against Hikurangi — and the ambulance whose siren and horns went off for what seemed like an eternity before the match.

Waiapu captain and tighthead prop Perrin Manuel and second five-eighth Lance “Tojo” Maaka (so-named for Hideki Tojo, prime minister of Imperial Japan during World War 2) are the only survivors of the 2012 outfit.

Manuel said: “The boys are excited but we'll go into the final as level-headed as possible, because TVC aren't going to give us an inch.

“A lot of work has been done behind the scenes this year just to make this event, this gathering, a community hub. And we're super-proud of our Waiapu women's hard work and effort to make the Hamo Te Rangi Cup final as well.”