Halfback Joe McGregor, Athletic co-captain with scrum anchor Alex Little, won the toss and opted to play with the gusting westerly wind. Tapuae kicked off.
Tapuae centre Iowane Filimoni opened the scoring with a try four minutes into the first half. Their MVP (most valuable player) of the final, fullback Kyoni-Tyrese Te Amo-Poki, kicked the conversion to give the green-and-blacks a 7-0 lead.
No team can lose as prominent or industrious a lock as Athletic’s 6ft 10in Adriaan Brits without cost. While his team scrummaged superbly, opposition fetcher Antonio Vukicicakaudrove’s strength in the air ensured Tapuae won at least their fair share of lineout ball.
In the 28th minute, McGregor put the defending champions on the board with a try for the black-and-whites to close it to 7-5.
One minute later, Te Amo-Poki landed a penalty goal for 10-5 and 36 minutes in, he scored the third try of the match for 15-5.
Athletic lifted to produce a try on the cusp of halftime. Lock Hayden Thornton dotted down, with a conversion from No.8 Moss Doran, but Tapuae were still in front, 15-12, at the break.
In the second half, both sides made yet more hard tackles and earned every metre of territory they could with the most direct approach possible.
Thirteen minutes after the resumption, powerful left wing Eneriko Tupou scored the first try of his double in the showpiece to give Tapuae an eight-point lead at 20-12.
Only three minutes later, Athletic centre Lennox Rogers scored to close the margin between the teams to three points: 20-17 to Tapuae.
Tupou scored again, in the corner from a surge down the short side of the ground in the 82nd minute. Unconverted, it was the match-winning score and last points of the third local derby — Battle of the Bridge — for 2023.
Tapuae beat Wairoa Athletic 29-10 at Bayleys Real Estate Gisborne Athletic Park on April 29, in Week 3; they beat them 22-14 on June 17, on Field 1 at the Tapuae Sports Grounds, in a non-competition match; and they beat them 25-17 at Lambton Square in the final.
The Taniwha were the only team to beat Wairoa Athletic in a juicy season of Senior 1 rugby.
Little spoke for Wairoa Athletic.
“It was a close game for the majority. In the last 20 minutes of the second half we weren’t as clinical as we needed to be. Tapuae used that to keep us out of the game.
“We had opportunities — we just couldn’t capitalise on them — but our boys really enjoyed this season. We were able to travel to Uawa to play them at their home ground.
“By the end of the season, we were playing really good rugby. Losing this final will give us more hunger to win next year.”
Tapuae skipper Doull is not a man easily overcome, but this lusty occasion made even the most granite chin at Lambton Square tremble at the end.
“Our general play, with our pod shapes, went well and the tempo went up and down — as we like it,” he said.
“Both teams played a good game. We just kept our heads high throughout the game and didn’t over-think it.”
Matt Smith enjoyed his third game in charge of a Senior 1 final, and appreciated the game-day administrative support of Poverty Bay Rugby chief executive Ray Noble, club development officer Florian Bub and union president Tom Crosby.
“To have two Wairoa teams in the final at home was special and the crowd was very passionate,” Smith said.
“Tapuae defended well, and Wairoa Athletic were strong in terms of their pick-and-go play.
“That final was played in good spirit. It was real finals rugby.
“We’ve got a good referees’ group, but we’re keen for still more refs. ”
Crosby complimented Smith and his crew on their control of the match and thoroughly enjoyed finals day in Wairoa.
“That game could’ve gone either way. Iowane scored a scintillating try; Moss unfortunately missed three kicks at goal in the first half, but Athletic came back into it before the break.
“Truly our two best Senior 1 teams went against each other, and both should be proud of their efforts.”
