Waiapu began the season in heartstopping style at home, with a 25-19 win against Ruatoria City at what the old-timers called Windy Park, and it is from that same soil that they will dust themselves off.
Waiapu drew 10-10 with the Maunga (mountain) Hikurangi at Kahuitara, and then at home beat Tokomaru Bay 41-0 before Queen's Birthday Weekend.
They have done it both at home and away.
And with trips to Kawakawa mai Tawhiti at Wharekahika and Uawa Domain in Tolaga Bay to come before the Round 7 bye, Waiapu will —as the late John Manuel, life member and former president of NPEC Rugby was wont to do on representative match-days — get back on the horse.
Haenga said: “We're very competitive. A loss can be a good thing. It will make the boys even keener to play Hicks Bay in our next game.”
Haimona Waititi was pleased that in front of a full house — as has been the case for the past four weeks — his team hung in the contest.
“That was a hard-fought game of two halves; the nor'westerly wind was a huge factor,” he said.
“What it came down to for us was training. The boys who work hard on Thursdays showed great heart in the dying moments.”
Waiapu captain and scrum-anchor Perrin Manuel won the toss and chose to play into the strong breeze. TVC kicked deep from the off.
TVC opened the scoring in the fourth minute, after a Waiapu lineout went awry. Eleven metres into their own territory on the left touch, Waiapu turned the ball over — the startling speed and in-out footwork of halfback Bless Perese-Elliott was such that barely a finger was laid on him. His try a metre to the right of the goal-posts was converted by first five-eighth Ngarangi Haerewa for 7-0.
TVC captain and loosehead prop Hirini Delamere was the next man to score, in the seventh minute. Referee Jackson Reuben-Swinton gave the visitors a penalty five metres from Waiapu's goal-line, eight metres off the left touch. Two pushes right, two pushes left, and Delamere scored six metres in from the corner. Ngarangi Haerewa converted Delamere's try for 14-0.
Stung into action, the home team's pack responded in time-honoured fashion with a pushover try. From a five-metre scrum set 15m off the left touch, they got to striking distance for No.8 Morgan Poi to score.
No conversion followed and TVC got back to business in the 31st with a try which, as with Poi's effort, was sublime in its simplicity. From an attacking scrum centrefield on Waiapu's 22, Perese-Elliott darted right side, drew the defence in and found right wing Tame Anderson.
Anderson scored in the corner and, from the sideline, Haerewa converted for 21-5.
Just before halftime, TVC scored their fourth try — another stellar effort from Delamere to complete his double. TVC were awarded a penalty five metres in front of their own posts centrefield, and centre Tutere Waenga, the Victory Club's co-coach, chose to tap-kick, run and pass left. He got the ball back, made it to the 22 and two rucks later, Delamere scored 12m in from the corner. The try was not converted.
TVC went to the break two men down: second-five Te Manu Herewini (red card in the 20th minute) and left wing Ron-Paul McRoberts (yellow, 39th).
Now the boot was on the other foot, with the northerly at the backs of Waiapu.
They posted three second-half tries — all converted by first-five Keelan Poi — to openside flanker Willie Bolingford in the 55th minute, right wing Phoenix Manuel (61 minutes) and halfback Hamuera Moana (67min).
Waiapu scored 21 unanswered points and drew level, 26-all.
In the 72nd minute, fullback Verdon Bartlett, a TVC legend, intercepted a pass and — with five men in pursuit — tore 59m down the ground to score in the left corner.
His try was not converted — TVC were 31-26 up, which was the final score.
Waiapu's Perrin Manuel said: “That game was one for the elements. That wind blew hard; the sun was with the wind and the team with the wind at their backs scored points.
“The winning of it came down to whose defence was better.”
