Steady progress

RUGBY by Ben O’Brien-Leaf

“Long is the way and hard, that out of hell leads up to light.”

The line from John Milton’s epic poem Paradise Lost could be related to Ngati Porou East Coast’s tough run of the last eight or so years.

But the Hosea Gear-coached Sky Blues continued their steady journey towards that light on Saturday.

“We went well, strung some passes together and put a few points on the board,” Coast captain and No.8 Hone Haerewa said of their 34-22 loss to King Country in front of a 1000-strong crowd in Opotiki.

“There’s still the occasional error but lots of good stuff as well.

“For instance, I slipped out into the backline on our short lineouts and (lock) Kyah Hollis took control of our lineouts and calls. That was a massive for an 18-year-old to have that responsibility but he showed great leadership. He won our ball and openside flanker Moana Mato also had a killer day in winning some of their ball as well.”

Hollis and captain Haerewa, with Mato’s support, ensured the Coast won high-quality ball in that critical phase of play.

Both starting props — Perrin Manuel and Hirini Delamere — not only led a great scrum effort, they scored tries as well.

The Coast’s forwards and backs kept pace with King Country fitness-wise in what was a good contest.

NPEC matched the Rams with four tries apiece but the right boot of first-five Mohi Roberts was the difference. He didn’t miss a conversion and potted two first-half penalty goals.

Under Bay of Plenty referee Sam Fellows, Haerewa won the toss and gave King Country the benefit of a nor’ wester in excellent conditions.

The Rams opened the scoring in the third minute when rake Nick Barnes found lock Josh Balme in the first line-out of the game nine metres from the Coast’s goal-line in the left corner. Barnes scored from the ensuing line-out drive.

In the eighth minute, the Rams struck again. They won a turnover in midfield, just on their own side of halfway, drove the Coast back and hard-running centre Josevata Malimole ran on to a well-timed pass from blindside flanker Sisa Vosaki for the try, which Roberts converted.

In the 15th minute, Coast left-winger Taleq Simeon made his presence felt. The sturdy youngster steamed down the touchline and hard into his opposite — former Poverty Bay representative Ratu Vosaki, who was concussed and replaced by Dion Havea.

The Coast opened their account from a lineout 15m from the Rams’ line.

Hooker Raniera Whakataka threw to Hollis at four in the lineout and three passes later, right-wing Benny Haerewa showed great pace and finished superbly in the corner.

Barely a minute later, Roberts landed a 21m penalty for a 17-5 lead but the Coast responded in the 29th minute with a try to rock the Princess Street Reserve ground. Hollis won the lineout 10m from the left corner on attack and three phases later — having probed for gaps on both sides of the park — captain Haerewa found tighthead prop Delamere ranging out wide to score in the corner.

The try was unconverted and Roberts kicked a penalty on the cusp of halftime for a 20-10 lead as an injured Hollis was assisted from the field.

The Rams scored first in the second half, loosehead prop Josevata Curuki going over for the try, converted by Roberts.

But the Coast had more to come. In the 49th minute, 15m off the right touch, 5m from the King Country goal-line, they set and won a scrum.

They went down the blindside and three phases later, loosehead prop Manuel scored for 15-27.

Sisa Vosaki replied with the individual try of the match in the 62nd minute and another Roberts conversion made it 34-15.

The Coast signed off with a fine try to reserve lock Rikki Waitoa from a penalty in the 72nd minute.

The Coast chose to run it, attacked the blindside and second-five Verdon Bartlett gave Waitoa the assist for the try that first five Rapata Haerewa converted from the sideline.

NPEC head coach Hosea Gear noted improvements in the Sky Blues’ play.

“Our scrums were better this week. Hirini (Delamere) has come on in leaps and bounds during this short campaign,” said Gear. “(Reserve tighthead prop) Mahue Dewes and (reserve loosehead prop) Mike Chambers-Raroa joined us late in the lead-up to this game. It’s good that we got to introduce new players.”

Rams head coach Isaac Boss said it was “a good tussle, physical as always, and the Coast disrupted any momentum we got”.

“They ensured it was a stop-start affair and it almost felt, with the stoppages in the first half, as if we played two games.”

“I thought Rapata controlled things well for them and their option-taking was very good in terms of when to kick or run, while Hone carried the ball strongly.”

The Coast have shown heart, grit and no less flair than usual since the season began. They are a happy team, well led and work hard for each other.

None of their debutants — Hollis, reserve halfback Keegan Rowley, Rapata Haerewa and Simeon — looked out of place and Mato was a worthy Player of the Day for the side.

King Country took the opportunities presented but the Sky Blues were in the game for longer than has been the case at times since 2012.

Ngati Porou East Coast women lost 52-27 to their Opotiki opposites in the curtain-raiser, having trailed 5-24 at halftime.

The NPEC men finish their season against the Northland development 15 at George Nepia Memorial Park in Rangitukia on October 17.