Positives in defeat

EXCITING FIND: Ngati Porou East Coast lost 46-8 to Horowhenua Kapiti in a Heartland Championship rugby clash at Ruatoria on Saturday but they unveiled a potential star in fullback Morrison Siliko, a member of the Auckland club championship-winning Ponsonby side. Siliko, above, is pictured setting up first five-eighth Ngarangi Haerewa for the Coast’s only try. A bad patch in the first half cost the Coast, who battled back from a 32-3 halftime deficit. Pictures by Paul Rickard

Ngati Porou East Coast coaches Troy Para and Wayne Ensor are adamant their side are on the right track despite a 46-8 loss to Horowhenua Kapiti in week 2 of Heartland Championship rugby.

The Coast went into the game at Whakarua Park, Ruatoria, on Saturday on the back of a 75-17 loss to King Country at Te Kuiti last week and looked to be heading for a similar scoreline after trailing 32-3 at halftime.

But a determined Coast, led by skipper and lock Hone Haerewa, midfield backs TK Moeke and Verdon Bartlett, and halfback Sam Parkes made sure there would be no repeat.

In an inspired display, the Coast held the visitors to a second-half scoreline of 14-5.

“In the modern game, that’s not a big score,” Ensor said.“I believe we’re not far away from getting a win. If you weren’t at the game you would think it was a hiding but it wasn’t.”

Para pointed to the score after 25 minutes, 13-3, and the second-half performance.

“At 13-3 — and it could have been closer — we were in the game,” he said.

“But just like last week, we had a bad patch, conceding 19 points in 12 minutes before the break.

“A lot of positives came out of the game. The first 25 minutes and the last 40 were good. If we can sort out the lapses, we can be more competitive.”

Horowhenua Kapiti, last year’s beaten Meads Cup finalists, opened the scoring after 12 minutes through a penalty to first five-eighth Ethan Reti.

His Coast counterpart, Ngarangi Haerewa, levelled a minute later.

From the restart, Parkes, who had a stormer, secured possession but his forwards did not get there quick enough to protect him and the ball was turned over.

Parkes’s opposite, Kane Tamou, then finished off good work from blindside flanker Tom Zimmerman and lock Joel Winterburn to score a try, converted by Reti, who stretched the gap with a penalty in the 25th minute.

Shortly after, Coast left wing Benny Haerewa made a tremendous break before being tackled with the tryline in sight. Had Haerewa scored, it would have given the Coast a huge boost.

That was the signal for the floodgates to open as the physically stronger and more mobile Horowhenua pack took control, winning the battle at the breakdown and making big metres with ball in hand.

With shouts of “Come on boys, you can do it” and “Let’s go Coast, it’s not over yet”, the Coast returned for the second half.

OK, Horowhenua Kapiti won the second half on points and the match comfortably but there was much to admire in the spirited second-half display of the Coast.

They scored a try, to Ngarangi Haerewa, after a superb piece of skill from fullback Morrison Siliko, who looks a real find.

The Coast also bombed two golden chances for tries.

The first, in the 46th minute, came after great lineout work by blindside flanker Rikki Kernohan, who passed to Bartlett. He broke the defence wide open and angled towards the right-wing corner flag before passing to openside flanker Jack Richardson, who couldn’t hold on to the ball and the try went begging.

A try would have been just reward for Richardson, who continues to impress in his first season at this level.

Bartlett was also involved in the second missed opportunity. Intercepting a pass 35 metres out from his own tryline, he raced up the middle of the pitch.

With Parkes flying up in support on the right and winger BJ Sidney on the left and only one man to beat, Bartlett took the wrong option and went left to Sidney, who was closer to the last defender.

“Our defence was better than last week,” Ensor said. “But we have to be better taking the ball into the contact area. We also need to keep improving our fitness. As has been said, it’s hard getting the boys all together during the week so we’ve gone for a good session on Friday nights before the home game.”

The Coast are at home to Wairarapa Bush this Saturday. The Bush have also lost their opening two games — to Poverty Bay (27-22) in week one and Thames Valley (44-32) on Saturday.

Ngati Porou East Coast 8 (Ngarangi Haerewa try, pen).

Horowhenua Kapiti 46 (Timoci Serawalu 2, Willie Paia’aua 2, Kane Tamou, Stewart MacGregor tries; Ethan Reti 5 con, 2 pen).