Flanker Petera Smith was deservedly United’s player of the day, and Miraika Chaffey and No.8 Joe Brown made things difficult for Uawa’s inside backs.
Play see-sawed for 25 minutes before Chambers scored Tokomaru’s first try, in front of the posts. Jason Babbington converted.
Uawa took play down to the United tryline, and after five minutes Sam Parkes put their first points on the board, but the try went unconverted and United led 8-6 at halftime.
Uawa came out after the break determined to stick to their game plan, and scored two early tries. The first of these came from lock Rikki Kernohan, a regular standout performer for Uawa along with fellow second-rower Scott Lasenby. They dominated the lineouts in the second half.
Winger Vllayne Whakataka scored Uawa’s third try after taking a short pass from Sam Parkes, who kicked the conversion.
Uawa were dominating play by this time but that didn’t stop United wing James Te Kahika darting away for a 70-metre runaway try, dotting down between the posts. The conversion attempt missed, and Uawa led 20-14.
Captain Ben Parkes, Kerehama Blackman and Harley Phillips had a great second half tidying up loose play for Uawa. The front row of hooker Wyntah Riki and props Laman Davies and Dan Knubley — his team’s player of the day — scrummed well and made their mark with useful bursts in the loose.
Both sets of backs had useful roles in the game. Uawa first five-eighth Tamati Tangohau, second-five Jesse Saywell and centre Tawho Stewart used the ball well in the second half, and fullback BJ Sidney had a great game.
United centre Stefan Destounis went well on attack and defence, and first-five Matt Marino and second-five Canaan Parata made useful ground.
Uawa’s fourth try was scored by Kereama Leach, who came on at centre, and the team’s last try was scored by Sidney, after a great run through the defence. Sam Parkes converted.
The game was well controlled by Manawatu referee Stephen Soutar.
Uawa 34 (Rikki Kernohan, Sam Parkes, Vllayne Whakataka, Kereama Leach, BJ Sidney tries; Sam Parkes 2 con).
Tokomaru United 14 (James Te Kahika, Mike Chambers tries; Jason Babbington con)
HT: 8-6 (Tokomaru United).
Ruatoria City beat Waiapu 36-18 at Whakarua Park on Saturday.
Waiapu first-five Puna Manuel was the first to score, after six minutes, but the conversion attempt missed.
City replied eight minutes later with a strong back movement and a try to Corey Walker. Tim Barbarich converted.
City played their usual tactical game and began to accumulate the points.
Waiapu’s big forwards Hoto Te Whitu, Chris Haenga and Perrin Manuel played strong games.
Lock Richie Green scored City’s next points, and utility back Kahu Takarangi’s try took the score to 20-6 to City at halftime.
City were quickly back on attack in the second half, and a burst by Jayden Milner with a pass to Roha Dalton-Reedy resulted in another try, which was converted by Barbarich.
Waiapu replied through second-five Rory Waitoa’s try, which was unconverted. This was soon followed by a try to Waiapu wing Tihei Turei, which took the score to 28-18 and made the game a close contest for a while.
But City’s Kopere Swann sealed the victory for City with a late try. The try went unconverted but Barbarich added a penalty a few minutes later.
Ruatoria City 36 (Corey Walker, Richie Green, Kahu Takarangi, Roha Dalton-Reedy, Kopere Swann tries; Barbarich 2 con, pen).
Waiapu 18 (Puna Manuel, Rory Waitoa, Tihei Turei tries).
HT: 20-6.
TVC beat Tokararangi 60-0 at Te Araroa on Saturday.
The last time these two met, Tokararangi won 50-44, but on Saturday a family bereavement meant that many of their key players were missing.
Toka fielded a young team who were unable to stave off the TVC onslaught.
TVC 60 (Hoani Te Moana 2, Dion Hignett 2, Joey Ford, Floyd Haerewa, Verdon Bartlett, Solomone Vaka, Hirini Delamere tries; Manaia Nyman 2, Benny Haerewa con).
Tokararangi 0.
Tawhiti held off Hikurangi in the first 30 minutes of their game at Tokomaru Bay on Saturday.
However, Hiku then regrouped and progressed towards a 100-0 win that has taken them to second place in the competition.
Hikurangi 100 (Te Kaiwi Parata 4, Robbie Ngarimu 2, Billy Manuel 2, Caleb Lewis, Te Moni Soutar, Horace Lewis, Kris Palmer, Taneatoa Parata tries; Kris Palmer 11 con).
Tawhiti 0.
With two rounds to go there is plenty of air now between Uawa, leading on 41 points, and the rest of the top four.
Saturday’s games saw a rearrangement of the deck chairs among the potential semifinalists. Hikurangi are now second on 29 points, closely followed by TVC on 28 and Tokomaru United are fourth on 26.
Just outside the top four are Ruatoria City, fifth on 25 points, Tokararangi, sixth on 24, and Waiapu, seventh on 23. Hicks Bay are eighth on two points and Tawhiti have yet to score any competition points.