Tokararangi made it five wins from five games on Saturday to clinch the Kath McLean Memorial Cup as round 1 winners in the Ngati Porou East Coast club rugby competition. Round 2 starts this weekend. Photo / OB Graphics
Tokararangi made it five wins from five games on Saturday to clinch the Kath McLean Memorial Cup as round 1 winners in the Ngati Porou East Coast club rugby competition. Round 2 starts this weekend. Photo / OB Graphics
The game that decided the winners of round 1 of the H Blackbee Contractors Ngati Porou East Coast men’s club competition was a brilliant advertisement for grassroots rugby.
The Kath McLean Memorial Cup, which honours an iconic servant of NPEC rugby, was held aloft byTokararangi captain/blindside flanker Hone Haerewa after 84 minutes of thrills, spills and passion.
His red and blacks pipped hosts Waima 24-22 at Hatea-a-rangi Memorial Domain in Tokomaru Bay in a top-of-the-table round 1 finale.
Tokararangi skipper Hone Haerewa holds up the Kath McLean Memorial Cup for the round 1 winners in the Ngati Porou East Coast Men's club rugby championship. Photo / OB Graphics
Tokararangi won all five of their round 1 games to finish on 23 points. Waima were second on 17, Ūawa third on 15, Hikurangi - who won their Saturday game by default over Waiapu - fourth on 11, Waiapu fifth on seven and Ruatōria City sixth on five.
A crowd of 300 saw Tokararangi go to the break 14-5 in front of Waima through tries to fullback Phoenix Manuel and second five Te Kooti Kingi, both converted by first five Rapata Haerewa.
Te Aranga Hakiwai crossed for Waima – the first of a double for the first five later named his side’s Player of the Day.
Tokararangi kicked the ball dead from the restart. Waima captain and No 8 Te Peehi Fairlie chose a scrum at halfway, then came off the back of it in a stunning 25m burst. Two penalties, one tap kick and two charges later, he went in low and hard to score under the crossbar.
Hakiwai converted and it was a two-point ball game – 14-12.
Waima first five Te Aranga Hakiwai reaches over to score one of his two tries in his side's 24-22 loss to Tokararangi. Watching him are referee Matt Richards, halfback Kahu Kahaki and reserve Anaru Chase. Photo / OB Graphics
Tokararangi came roaring back. They got to the goal-line twice, only to be rebuffed. But having missed a penalty attempt from 40m back, an ensuing kick for touch gave them the lineout throw on the Waima 22. Tokarangi took it quickly, catching Waima off-guard, and fearsome loosehead prop Teina Potae scored in the corner in the 53rd minute.
Tokararangi’s Player of the Day Rapata Haerewa landed the sideline conversion for 21-12.
After a lengthy passage of play on attack and referee Matt Richards’ excellent application of the advantage law, Hakiwai was on hand to get the ball down for his second try in the 63rd minute and cut the deficit to 21-17.
With tension and expectations of a big finish growing, Waima struck again in the 75th. Fairlie went hard right from the back of a scrum 17m out and shrugged off three would-be defenders to complete a personal double and put his team 22-21 ahead.
But with the clock ticking down, a Waima player was penalised 10m from their line in front of the posts and Rapata Haerewa potted a match-winning kick.
“It was a game and rugby befitting of that trophy,” Hone Haerewa said. “It was awesome stuff and it was hard-fought to the final minute.”
Tokararangi No 8 Taipari Wirepa at the breakdown as teammate and openside flanker Kaydin Budd and referee Matt Richards arrive at the ruck, with Waima loosehead prop Hakarangi Tichborne the tackled player getting support from hooker Isaiah Leach. Photo / OB Graphics
With points being reset, the battle is now on for the Jury Harrison Memorial Cup for the second-round winners.
The McLean and Harrison cups, along with the Rangiora Keelan Memorial Shield for the championship, were won in 2025 by Tihirau Victory Club, who are playing in the Eastern Bay of Plenty competition this season.
Meanwhile, NPEC supporters will be delighted at the return of Hicks Bay to the competition on Saturday after not taking part in round 1.
It’s a tough welcome back. Hicks Bay, who in 2023 – their 109th year – won the championship for the first time, host Tokararangi at Kawakawa Mai Tawhiti.
