With Waiapu’s withdrawal from what is now a seven-team competition, the clubs will each have a bye. The competition will have two rounds, each of six games.
The semifinals will be the No.1-ranked team at home to the No.4 team, and the No.2 team at home to the No.3 team on Saturday, July 20.
The home final for the top qualifier is set for July 27.
Last year’s beaten finalists, 2017 winners TVC, began their campaign at pace and scored eight tries.
From Cape Runaway down to Tolaga Bay, conditions for playing open running rugby were ideal. TVC took full advantage of that.
Their try-scorers were tighthead prop Hirini Delamere, blindside flanker Kuhu Haweti, player of the day and halfback Tevita Ahoafi, player-coach and first five-eighth Verdon Bartlett, right wing Willy Ford, fullback Floyd Haerewa and skipper and centre Peeti Delamere.
Peeti Delamere landed six conversions.
TVC led 12-5 at the break.
Tokararangi scored through tries to loosehead prop Taylor Hovell, halfback William Martin and fullback Hone Haerewa. Tokararangi coach Morgan Wirepa was not unduly concerned by the result in Week 1 of what is potentially a 16-game season.
Hicks Bay played to strengths Hicks Bay can shake things up.
The Tyrone Delamere-Aaron King-coached Hicks Bay produced 10 tries — a double each to halfback Delamere and second-five Reihana Moeke-Bond, one apiece to Josh King (Norman Hooper’s replacement at tighthead prop), centre Dominic Wilson, co-captain and fullback Sean Murtagh, substitute blindside flanker Angus Kingi-Te Purei (on for Kaumoana Te Awhitu), loosehead prop Eden Nuku (taking the place of Reedy) and co-captain and openside flanker Frank Taiapa.
Hicks Bay right wing Leyth Delamere kicked seven conversions in the 64-7 result.
Moeke-Bond scored — and Leyth Delamere converted — the first try of the game.
Moments later, Tokomaru Bay United captain and lock Adam Williams, his team’s MVP (most valuable player), answered in kind. United halfback Sebastian Chambers-Raroa converted for 7-7.
Moeke-Bond then crossed again for 12-7 before King and Wilson scored — both tries being converted by Leyth Delamere — for a halftime score of 26-7 to Hicks Bay.
After the resumption, Murtagh scored for 31-7; Kingi-Te Purei’s effort made the score 36-7. Leyth Delamere was to convert all four of Hicks Bay’s last four tries, the double by Tyrone Delamere (which included a 55-metre run to score by the veteran), Nuku’s effort and the last try, well-taken by Taiapa.
“Both teams no doubt have things to work on — we’re all still trying to gel,” Hicks Bay manager and East Coast union former president Graeme Summersby said.
“Our forwards played well but everyone will need one or two games to get rugby-fit. You can’t get that at training.”
United co-coach Daryl Goldsmith knows who did what.
“It was an open game but Hicks Bay scrummaged well and played to their strengths — their old heads knew when to run and when to kick,” Goldsmith said.
“There weren’t many rucks and mauls but there was a lot of interplay between forwards and backs, Hicks Bay enjoying more possession.”
Goldsmith made special mention of his crew’s 18-year-old Mitchell Kahaki, who played his first game at hooker — 80 minutes’ worth — and carried the ball strongly throughout the match.
Goldsmith confirmed today that Tokomaru Bay United will train with Poverty Bay club side Horouta at Waikirikiri Park this Thursday, as a way of supporting United’s nine Gisborne-based players.
Hikurangi outscored Ruatoria City Hikurangi will only get better.
The club often referred to as “The Maunga” (mountain) outscored Ruatoria City by five tries to three in their 34-19 encounter.
Hikurangi’s try-scorers were loosehead prop Tahu Walker (two), first-five Te Kaiwi Parata, halfback Neihana Ratahi-Brown and fullback Fabyan Kahaki.
Kahaki landed a penalty goal and three conversions.
Centre David Manuel was named the Hikurangi MVP for his strong defence, and lock Te Maera Warmenhoven also hit hard in the tackle.
City coach Lisa Muller’s side scored three tries, through fullback Quentin Takarangi, right wing James Te Kahaki and loosehead prop and vice-captain Pera Bishop.
Second-five Nathaniel Fox converted the tries of Te Kahaki and Bishop.
City’s MVP, for his lion-hearted efforts at set piece and in general play, was tighthead prop Eru White.
The halftime score was 15-12 to Hikurangi.
Hikurangi coach Doone Harrison said he took things game by game, but was happy with the match-effort for a first outing.
“That said, we’ve got a lot to work on.”
