South Islanders win battle of the Coasts

ON THE BURST: Ngati Porou East Coast fullback Whakarae Henare, here in action against Poverty Bay at Queen’s Birthday Weekend, burst through to dive on Kareti Palmer’s grubber kick to score against West Coast at Whakarua Park, Ruatoria, on Saturday. West Coast won the match 22-10. Picture by Paul Rickard

The West Coast took advantage of the wind and rain to beat Ngati Porou East Coast 22-10 in Saturday’s Heartland rugby clash at Whakarua Park, Ruatoria.

The visitors had a bunch of big hard-running forwards who gained plenty of possession and went on the offensive in the battle of the Coasts, scoring three of West Coast’s four tries.

The East Coast forwards won their share of scrum ball and in the loose, but the lineout takes were shared.

East Coast played to the conditions, concentrating on 10-man rugby, with halfback Sam Parkes working with his forwards and with first five-eighth Richard Apanui, who had an excellent day using his boot to gain many metres.

But when it suited, Apanui used his outside backs to great effect.

The West Coast had the wind behind them when first-five Nik Cumming kicked off. The visitors quickly went on attack, kicking through into the in-goal area. But East Coast wing Kris Palmer won the race to the ball and pressed it.

Referee Brett Johnson ruled that the ball had been carried back and awarded a five-metre scrum to the West Coast. However, the home team won the scrum and Parkes delivered the ball to Apanui who kicked into touch on halfway.

This seemed to give the West Coast forwards the message about Apanui’s capabilities, and they lost few scrums after that.

A few minutes into the game the visitors went on attack again, keeping the slippery ball in the forwards. The tight five hunted as a pack, offloading quickly, and then coming round to back up.

Loosehead prop Mat Jeffreys made a solid 15 metres, combining with fellow prop Lolesio Lavea and captain and hooker Troy Tauwhare and the visitors camped on the East Coast line.

Lock Brad Houston passed the ball to Jeffreys, who made ground and then passed back to Houston, who scored the West Coast’s first try out wide. It was not converted.

The East Coast went on attack, and a high kick from Apanui put them where they wanted to be. Hooker Kareti Palmer put a grubber kick over the line, and fullback Whakarae Henare burst through to dive on it. The strong southerly pushed away Apanui’s conversion attempt.

At the other end of the field, West Coast won a penalty, which Cumming kicked into touch seven metres from the East Coast line. The visiting forwards won the lineout and drove towards the line. Flanker Josh Hill scored and Cumming converted.

Fifteen minutes before halftime, East Coast went on attack. Apanui kicked a penalty to within 15 metres of the West Coast line. Parkes made a strong burst but was brought down five metres short.

A defensive scrum to the West Coast, followed by a punt by Cumming, moved play back to midfield.

The East Coast defence was solid in both forwards and backs, though some West Coast forwards — notably flanker Dylan Nel — still made ground.

A burst by lock Francis Auwerda was thwarted when East Coast flanker Donny Mill ripped the ball off him.

The East Coast went on attack near the end of the half and were inside the visitors’ 22 when Apanui put a chip-kick out to the wing where the Palmer brothers were lurking. Kareti passed to Kris who scored out wide.

Just before halftime, Houston scored his second try for West Coast, and they led 17-10 at the break.

West Coast’s strong start to the second half was rewarded with a try to winger Desmond Spooner.

East Coast coach Willie Waitoa then looked to his bench, replacing lock Te Miini Kohere-Smiler with Storm Moran, prop Mike Chambers with Robert Rewi and wing Roha Dalton Reedy with Pamona Samupo. A few minutes later halfback Sam Parkes was replaced by Charlie Harrison, while flanker Simon Beale and hooker Kareti Palmer were replaced by Waitoa and Luke Bates respectively.

The West Coast replaced lock Francis Auwerda with Isei Lewaqai.

In the scrum this injection of fresh players added impetus but the game went into 20 minutes of scrappy play which didn’t go anywhere.

Most of the action had been in the first half of the game, and it was hard to pick out particular players. The West Coast forwards certainly worked as a unit. The home team forwards were outplayed on attack, but their defence was excellent, as usual.

East Coast dominated back play, but it wasn’t a day for too much action there.

As well as Heartland competition points, the West Coast took home the Arthur Wickes Cup, which is contested between the two unions.