Uawa beat Waiapu 23-19

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

A half-time rev-up does the trick for Uawa . . . last weekend it worked against Tokomaru Bay United 48-12, and on Saturday that same approach — albeit a milder version — got a result at home.

The Big Blue Crew beat Pango Productions Waiapu 23-19, and Uawa player-coach scrum-anchor Laman Davies remembers each heavy tackle in the game with feeling.

“It was fast and physical with a lot of big hits, from their reserve openside flanker-cum-No.8 Will Bolingord and starting No.8 Jorion Tangaere,” he said.

“Our captain lock Paddy Allen, openside flanker Te Atapo Kirikiri and loosehead prop John Mathias played another blinder. We knew we had to step up — our starting tighthead prop Maia Fox and reserve lock Mahuta Moran were gutsy too.”

Some 700, the biggest crowd at Uawa Domain so far in this shortened season, saw the game played under perfect conditions.

Uawa wore black armbands and a moment of silence was observed for ex-Uawa player and supporter Richie Noanoa.

Uawa halfback Josh Dearden scored try No.1 from a blindside dart of 5m in the left corner. He could not convert his own try, but in the 14th minute did convert the home team’s second try, scored 10m in from the right corner, to wing Shayden Stevens.

Dearden converted for 12-0.

From a set play, centre Tawhao Stewart scored in the 16th minute for 17-0 and Dearden slotted a penalty goal from 20m out in the 27th minute.

But all was not lost for Rangitukia’s finest: Waiapa lock Te Mini Kohere-Smiler scored, after a succession of pick-and-go plays, right on half-time. First-five Keelan Poithen converted for Waiapu 7 Uawa 20, the half-time score.

Waiapu halfback Hamuera Moana scored in the 52nd minute for 12-20 after Bolingford had made big inroads — there was no conversion — and Uawa knew they were in a fight.

This is why, in the 65th minute, Dearden prudently kicked a penalty goal for 23-12.

In the 75th minute, the visitors tap-kicked and went at the line from 5m out. Their captain No.3 Perrin Manuel scored, which with Moana’s conversion ended the scoring.

Uawa had won 23-19.

Tokomaru Bay United coach Jesse Haenga said: “Uawa played quick rugby in the first half — defence was everything . . . and their first-five Carlos Kemp is hard to stop.

“It was good clean rugby.”