TVC beat Hikurangi

In form: First five-eighth Verdon Bartlett earned TVC’s player-of-the-day award against Hikurangi in East Coast club rugby at Whangaparaoa on Saturday. TVC won 20-10. File picture by Doone Harrison

It doesn’t get any easier.

So volatile is the East Coast club rugby landscape that with only two weeks of round-robin play remaining, shock results in the top four and defaults in the lower ranks mean nothing is certain.

The field, in terms of participants, has already narrowed. Hicks Bay took five competition points on Saturday with Waiapu unable to field a side.

Yet teams are still producing high-quality play . . . fearless, counter-attacking rugby, played with relish.

Defending champions Tihirau Victory Club defeated 2017 beaten finalists Hikurangi 20-10, and former competition leaders Uawa had a 23-20 victory over an unbending, unyielding Tokararangi unit.

Ever-dangerous Verdon Bartlett was superb at home, the first five-eighth’s aggressiveness earning him TVC’s player-of-the-day award and high praise from the man outside him — captain and second-five Moana Mato.

“Verdon took the ball to the line and distributed well,” Mato said.

“We’re stoked because that game was only the second time we’ve beaten Hikurangi in the seven years I’ve been playing.

“We had the wind in the first half, pinned them down and capitalised on their mistakes.”

Hikurangi left wing Zyon Collins scored the opening try but TVC centre Damien Waititi and blindside flanker Solomon Vaka then scored tries in response.

Left wing Joe Waenga’s conversion gave the home team a 12-5 lead, which with an additional penalty from fullback Peeti Delamere made the halftime score 15-5 to TVC.

Right wing Ron-Paul McRoberts scored the first try of the second half for TVC, Hikurangi reserve hooker Pat McLean grabbed a late try, and that was 20-10.

In the Week 5 meeting at Whakarua Park, Hikurangi had ground out a 32-18 win. It was on that result that they had climbed from fourth to second.

But Hikurangi captain and hooker Ngarimu Parata offered no excuses in the wake of the second replay of the epic 2017 final.

“TVC played strong,” he said.

“They just gave it to us.”

Just letting you know we’re aroundJust letting you know we’re around.

That’s what Tokararangi were doing on Saturday.

Although Uawa showed their characteristic resolve and won 23-20 at home, Tokararangi know now that they can push the other top-four teams hard.

“Uawa are a good team — to beat them, you’ve got to make first-up tackles,” Tokararangi player-coach and No.8 Morgan Wirepa Jnr said.

“With our flair, the more often we keep the ball in hand, the better it is for us.”

Tokararangi’s tryscorers were blindside flanker Hone Haerewa and first-five Pamona Samupo, with left wing William Martin converting both tries. Martin reinforced his ability to punish teams with his boot by kicking penalty goals in each half.

For Uawa, loosehead prop Laman Davies, No.8 Harley Phillips and right wing Oscar Canseca Munoz scored tries.

Fullback BJ Sidney kicked two penalties and a conversion. Sidney has never been flashy but class will out.

Across the competition, players and teams know what’s at stake — the Rangiora Keelan Memorial Shield.

Uawa captain and lock Scott Lasenby was relieved to win another close game.

The last meeting between the teams was a 14-7 win to Uawa at Te Araroa Domain. It featured a penalty try and physicality-plus. Yet Lasenby’s Uawa will be happy to have won both round-robin games, and will take confidence from the feat.

Morgan Wirepa Jnr summed it up.

“We’re getting down to the nitty-gritty. At this stage you have to be ruthless.”