Tokararangi take care of business

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Tokararangi had a job to do on Saturday and they did it.

The defending champions of Ngati Porou East Coast club rugby beat seventh-placed Tokomaru Bay United 64-0, scoring 10 tries in the process.

Left wing Hirau Grant opened the scoring at Te Araroa Domain in the 10th minute, his try not being converted. At the 15-minute mark, second five-eighth James Warnock scored for 10-0 which with a conversion from his skipper became 12-0. Hone Haerewa also converted the third Tokararangi try, to centre Teina Potae, for 19-0 in the 20th minute.

At the 30th minute, Potae found Grant with an assist to score and Grant converted his own try for 26-0. The home team's back-row forwards combined seamlessly in the 35th minute, No.8 Will Bolingford finding Haerewa to score.

Haerewa landed the subsequent conversion for 33-0, and that was the half-time score.

Three minutes after play resumed, Tokararangi right wing Karaitiana Kenworthy scored for 38-0. With reserve first-five Rapata Haerewa's conversion, the home team hit 40.

In the 49th minute, Bolingford dotted down under the bar, Rapata Haerewa doing the honours for 47-0.

Rapata Haerewa then scored twice himself, in the 58th and 66th minutes, converting the first of those tries, and Tokararangi led 59-0.

Reserve left wing Kairos Brooking-McClutchie scored the 10th and last try of the match, which — with no conversion — made the final score 64-0.

Teina Potae, who had been in good form before his excellent showing for Ngati Porou East Coast against Poverty Bay, has elevated his play still further and was named MVP (most valuable player) for the home team.

Hone Haerewa said: “I was very happy with our boys. They bounced back well after the loss last weekend. United played with passion, as they always do, and we took the opportunity to try a few things leading into the semifinals. It was a fast game, and very physical as well.”

Tokomaru Bay United coach Kuru Gray chose as the visitors' MVP a great grafter in No.8 Erutini Walker.

Gray said: “Erutini was good value in all facets of play, as was our captain and loosehead prop Mike Chambers-Raroa and blindside flanker Mike Tiopira. I'm proud of our guys for fronting up.”