TVC and Opotiki battle to draw

front-row asset: Tighthead prop Hirini Delamere — here in East Coast club rugby action for TVC against Uawa — scored a try and was MVP (most valuable player) for TVC in their drawn game against Opotiki Sports on Saturday.Picture by Paul Rickard

TVC versus Opotiki Sports was a brilliant game of rugby.

A crowd of 300-plus — roughly 100 of them Tihirau Victory Club fans — gathered at the Princess Street Reserve in Opotiki on Saturday and witnessed a five-try thriller.

Last season's East Coast club finalists TVC drew level, 27-all, with their hosts in the 88th minute of a fast-paced pre-season fixture.

“We had a great turnout to a free-flowing game, after having players come out of the woodwork as late as Friday and play good rugby in patches,” TVC co-coach and forwards coach Haimona Waititi said.

Opotiki coach Richie Howe felt that the home team also took a lot from the clash and, in particular, the battle up front.

“It was hard-fought — TVC dominated possession in the first half and they played clever rugby,” said Howe, who was impressed by the excellent gains made by TVC No.8 Hoani Te Moana and the lineout display from Sports' tall lock Rennae Kapa.

TVC captain and openside flanker Moana Mato won the toss and opted to play into the nor'westerly breeze.

TVC halfback Bless Perese-Elliot scored first, seven minutes into the game. Sixteen minutes in, Haerewa's co-coach, backs coach and centre Tutere Waenga dotted down for 12-0.

Sports speedsters left wing Kiwi Biddle and centre Te Hata Wilbore scored in the 18th and 20th minutes respectively to close it to 12-10 by quartertime.

Half an hour into the match, TVC left wing Willy Ford scored.

Opotiki Sports' loosehead prop and former Wesley College titan Fabian Tai answered in kind seven minutes later. Tai's try, off Sports' rolling maul, was a great example of the Eastern Bay of Plenty side's ability to muscle up.

TVC led 17-15 at halftime.

Biddle scored again, with a conversion by second five-eighth Mana Howe, in the 55th minute for 22-17 to Opotiki.

TVC legend and tighthead prop Hirini Delamere — MVP (most valuable player) on the day — made his presence felt with a try for 22-all on the cusp of three-quartertime.

In the 79th minute, Opotiki Sports MVP and halfback Tane Howe slipped between scrum anchor Delamere and loosehead prop Rika Mato to score beneath the crossbar, but could not convert his own try.

The score was 27-22 to Opotiki until Waenga — 88 minutes in — from five metres to the right of the posts, scrambled across the try-line.

Tihirau Victory Club had drawn level and the final score was 27-all.

The match produced 10 tries and a lot of good hard rugby, as exemplified by Mana Howe's carries and Tana Howe's game tackling of TVC's big front-row forwards.

Biddle scored his first try off a long kick and later finished a fast, sustained build-up for his second.

TVC looked to play the game at a brisk clip from the start and exercised their option to tap-kick and run from penalties awarded by the whistle-blowers on the day: TVC and Rangiora Keelan Memorial Shield-winning head coach Whetu Haerewa (first quarter), Maxwell Ratana of Bay of Plenty (second quarter) and Ngati Porou East Coast club final referee Jackson Reuben-Swinton (second half).

Opotiki Sports will next play Larsawn Ngatapa for the Sheep Shaggers Trophy at Princess Street Reserve at 2pm on Saturday.