Try-fest on the Coast

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RUGBY

Call it a good blow-out.

Tokomaru Bay United beat Ruatoria City 43-38 in a 7 (TBU) v 6 (City) try-fest in Week 12 of East Coast club rugby at the weekend.

Both teams have one win — with one game still to play — in the 16-match season, which began on March 30.

United, who lost 64-7 at home to early pacesetters Hicks Bay in Game 1, have a bye this Saturday and the honour to bow out hosting competition leaders Uawa a fortnight from now.

City, whose only win in 2019 has been a 41-24 victory against Tokomaru Bay at Hatea-a-Rangi in Week 5, travel to Te Araroa as guests of the fifth-placed Tokararangi this Saturday: such will be their swansong this season.

“This win’s been coming for a while,” said Darryl Goldsmith, who coaches Tokomaru Bay United with Kuru Gray.

“We scored 19 points away from home against Tihirau Victory Club (TVC) and four tries against Hicks Bay, and we hope to have players in the Ngati Porou East Coast squad.

“Our boys have persevered and they earned their win.”

Goldsmith also made mention of Poverty Bay referee Isaac Hughes, whose performance was lauded by both teams, and the fine spirit in which the game was played.

United’s tryscorers on Saturday were loosehead prop Gary Rangi, openside flanker Paulo Tatafu, No.8 Tupou Taliauli, captain and first-five Matt Marino, centre Nahau Halami and right wing, New Guinean flyer Dickson Don.

United fullback Kahu Kahaki was their most valuable player (MVP) for his superb’s goal-kicking: a penalty goal and five conversions for six out of seven attempts. The score at the break was 21-19 to Tokomaru Bay.

City matched United for firepower in tries: it was six apiece at Whakarua Park.

Captain and No.8 Pera Bishop grabbed a double, with the other tries going to hooker and MVP John Brown, centre James Te Kahika, right wing Dennis Te Kahika and fullback Nathaniel Fox.

Fox kicked three conversions, and reserve first-five Ian Logan landed one conversion.

They shouldn’t hang their heads.

And they won’t.

Hone Haerewa’s fifth-placed Tokararangi crew lost 26-19 to Uawa at Te Araroa Domain on Saturday but, having dug themselves a big hole by halftime, they at least proved they could pull themselves back up, if not quite out.

“We started slowly,” captain and No.8 Haerewa said.

“Uawa put 19 unanswered points on us early in the first half. (Coach) Morgan Wirepa Jnr flicked the switch for us at the break. The boys came out firing to get us back in the game.”

Uawa openside flanker Rikki Kernohan, big No.8 and MVP Adaam Ross, right-wing-cum-No.8 Fale Toleafoa and fullback Tipene Meihana scored tries. Halfback Chris Richardson kicked three conversions.

Tokararangi’s tryscorers were lock Dyllyn Evans, No.8 Haerewa and second-five Israel Brown. First-five Slade Tiopira kicked two conversions.

Their MVP was right wing Mohi Bartlett, whose pace, strength and elusiveness weren’t lost on teammates or opponents.

Uawa captain lock Scott Lasenby later said: “That contest was hard-fought. They came back at us.”

Is that how it’s going to be?

East Coast club rugby has produced some free-flowing rugby this season but it may just be, near the top end of the seven-team table, that any gaps between those teams are now much smaller. Nothing separated hosts Hikurangi and TVC in Week 12. They drew 7-7 at Kahuitara. In Week 5, these two teams had fought their way to a 12-all draw at Te Kura o Mana Maori o Whangaparaoa.

If they meet a third time, something must surely give.

Fullback David Manuel scored for “The Maunga” at home. That, with first-five Corey Walker’s conversion, gave the home team a 7-0 lead at halftime.

Second-five Rob Ngarimu was Hikurangi’s MVP, with coach Doone Harrison praising his captain and hooker Ngarimu Parata and openside flanker Kyil Beach for their efforts up front.

Loosehead prop Hirini Delamere scored TVC’s second-half try; centre Peti Delamere’s conversion made the score 7-7.