HIGH IMPACT: TVC lock Solomon Vaka (pictured centre) was praised by his captain, alongside No.8 Hoani Te Moana, for a 'monster game . . . with ball in hand and in the tackle' in their 14-13 loss in a top-of-the-table clash at the weekend. He is pictured here during the 2017 East Coast club final against Hikurangi. The Gisborne Herald file picture
So far, they've ticked every box. For six weeks, competition leaders Tokararangi of Te Araroa have gone from strength to strength in Enterprise Cars Ngati Porou East Coast club rugby.
They made a phenomenal start to 2020 at home, upping the ante from a half-time 7-5 lead in Week 1 v Hicks Bay with five second-half tries in a 45-5 win. They then beat Uawa — champions of the past two years — 21-20 for the Api Crawford Shield at Tolaga Bay, before upsetting Hikurangi 40-10 at Kahuitara; no matter the standings, any victory over “The Maunga” at their place is an upset.
And on Saturday, they pipped perhaps the seven-crew quest for the Rangiora Keelan Memorial Shield's most cerebral unit — Tihirau Victory Club — 14-13 in a top-of-the-table clash.
Tokararangi (18 competition points) now lead TVC (15pts), Uawa (11), Hicks Bay and Waiapu (both 6 points), Tokomaru Bay United (4) and Hikurangi (1).
The Maunga took a bonus point for their loss within seven points at the weekend (Hicks Bay's first win of the season, away, 21-19), while the shield holders swamped Waiapu 61-10 at Uawa Domain.
Tokararangi head coach Israel Brown held that his side have, and can, play better rugby than they did v TVC but acknowledged the challenges posed by what were four-seasons-in-one-day weather conditions.
Tokararangi captain openside flanker Hone Haerewa attributed the win to his side's composure and discipline, in an enjoyable game during which neither outfit gave an inch.
“It was well-contested by both teams — you can talk about who wanted it, but the truth is that both of us did.”
Haerewa praised referee Matt Richards for his consistency and clarity of decision-making.
Tokararangi played with a sou'easterly breeze and scored first, through two penalty goals to first-five Rapata Haerewa. His first effort was a 40m job some 12m off the right touch, with the second made from 20m out, 5m to the left of the posts. In the 12th minute, TVC second-five Peti Delamere opened the visitors' eyes with a penalty goal for TVC 3, Tokararangi 6. Twenty-five minutes in, from 19m out directly in front of the posts, Haerewa kicked his third penalty for 9-3. TVC hooker Tuterangi Te Moana then scored the first try of the match — unconverted — from a line-out drive, 5m from the left corner on halftime.
Tokararangi led 9-8 at the break.
In the 54th minute, following a 12-phase examination of the home team's defence, TVC were awarded a penalty in front of the posts 5m from Tokararangi's goal line. Delamere tap-kicked, went right side to centre Tutere Waenga, who threw a 15m pass to right-wing Taleq Simeon, who scored in the corner for 13-9: TVC's first lead of the game.
Simeon's try was not converted.
Tokararangi struck next, two minutes later. From a penalty given 15m from TVC's goal line in front of the posts, the hosts drove to the left three times before Tokararangi Player of the Day halfback Te Aho Haenga dived by heavy traffic to score for 14-13 to Te Araroa. That was the final score, despite both teams' heartiest efforts to change it.
There was no conversion of the Haenga try and no complaints from TVC captain openside flanker Moana Mato:
“There was a kicking duel between our man Peti and their man Rapata and it was very good rugby up front: lock Solomon Vaka and No.8 Hoani Te Moani both had a monster game for us with ball in hand and in the tackle. Hoani and tighthead prop Clendon Wikaire shared our Player of the Day award. Hone Haerewa and lock Kyah Hollis dominated the line-out for Tokararangi; the forwards were evenly matched at scrum-time.”
Waiapu fronted up
Though third-placed Uawa won the Week 5 clash 61-10, the visitors scored two excellent second-half tries through reserve No.8 Gabe Te Kani and first-five Slade Tiopira (one try, one conversion).
Uawa lock Guy Collins, openside flanker Rikki Kernohan, halfback Sam Parkes and fullback cum openside flanker Jordan Birch each scored a double, with one try each to head coach tighthead prop Laman Davies, No.8 Paddy Allen and first-five George Shields.
Shields kicked three conversions, and Uawa led 23-0 at halftime.
Hooker Willie Donald was Uawa's Player of the Day, with Waiapu right-wing Adrian Rogers.
Waiapu manager Kahu Waitoa gave credit to No.8 cum openside flanker Richard Green, brother props Hoto Te Whitu and Pakanga Te Whitu at loosehead and tighthead, respectively.
Davies said: “We've been training only for two weeks due to the cancellation then the bye, but only conceded two penalties on Saturday, so I'm pleased with our discipline. Our play at set-piece was good and referee Jackson Reuben-Swinton did an awesome job in allowing the game to flow and communicating well with both teams.
“I hope we get him again soon!”
‘A great game to watch'
Hicks Bay should still be floating in mid-air. The Aaron King-coached side recorded their first win of the season on Saturday, a 21-19 victory at home v Hikurangi coming one week after the epic clash against Waiapu at George Nepia Memorial Park in Rangitukia.
As Waiapu enjoyed their 25-24 triumph then, so did Hicks Bay take stock during their well-deserved first moment in the sun v The Maunga.
Hikurangi is a huge scalp to take and King is a proud man.
“The youngsters believed in themselves and have discovered a real passion for the game: people are starting to want to jump on the field, but everybody's got to fight for their spot now.”
King paid tribute also to his old-heads, loosehead prop Josh King, tighthead prop Aaron Reedy, halfback Tyrone Delamere among them.
The game began with three penalty goals: to Hikurangi first-five Te Aho Matua Morice for 3-0 in the seventh minute, to Hicks Bay second-five cum first-five Manahi Brooking for 3-all in the 12th and then 23rd minutes, for 6-3 to the hosts. Hikurangi Player of the Day halfback Neihana Ratahi-Brown scored the opening try — the first of his double — in the 35th minute, and Brooking answered in kind: both tries were unconverted. Hicks Bay led 11-8 at the break.
Fifty-two minutes in, Ratahi-Brown completed his double for 13-11, Morice then kicking a penalty at the 67th minute for 16-11. With seven minutes to play, Hicks Bay co-captain second-five Sean Murtagh — a player known for his unpredictable genius — kicked a drop goal to draw the home team within two points (14-16, down) of The Maunga.
Hicks Bay had thrown all they could at Hikurangi over nine phases but it was Murtagh who gave them a new lease on life.
In the 77th minute, Morice kicked his third penalty for 19-14 to The Mountain before Hicks Bay fullback Romeo Newey stole the show with a try on fulltime.
The score was 19-all.
Left-footer Brooking then converted the young fullback's try from the left touch for 21-19, and the win.
Brooking has had to take some big kicks — as in important shots at goal — in the last fortnight. Hicks Bay manager and former chairman Graeme Summersby noted that both teams took every opportunity to post points because they knew that the result might be close.
Summersby added: “Referee Eruera Kawhia was never flustered: he makes, explains and stands by his decisions. He helped to make it a great game to watch.”