OBM’s Rikki Terekia led last year’s beaten Poverty Bay grand finalists by energetic example firstly as No.8, then at No.6 and finally from loosehead prop a fortnight out from “Tiny” White Opening Day in Civil Project Solutions Poverty Bay club rugby.
“We played with structure at times, our work-rate across the board was high and our support play was good,” Terekia said.
“We had a few things we wanted to try, and our debutants — all of our boys, in fact — played well today.”
Uawa skipper and No.8-cum-lock Patrick Allen was, as usual, gritty. His size and strength were to the fore in tight-forward play throughout all three periods.
“That was a good blowout for us,” he said.
“OBM were classy, but we were just happy to get back out on to the field and throw the ball around.”
With no toss, Uawa chose an end and OBM kicked off playing into a fresh southerly breeze.
Les Thomas blew his whistle in periods 1 and 3, and Royce Maynard refereed the second third. Ray Young was assistant referee. The Poverty Bay officials did an excellent job for both teams, and both playing fields at the Oval are in splendid condition.
OBM looked the goods from the outset. Ten minutes into the game, over seven phases of play, they drove upfield and swung the ball from the left touch to right wing Rangi Hinaki, whose strong effort to finish ended only with hard-grafting Richard Green’s try-saving tackle for the visitors.
Green played well in every back-row berth — 6, 7 and 8.
Four minutes and five phases after that so-near-yet-so-far moment, Hinaki opened the scoring with a try for 5-0.
Although OBM had the greater share of possession and better field position throughout the first period, the hearts of their supporters in a crowd of 300 skipped beats occasionally.
A case in point was when big Uawa reserve lock Khian Westrupp charged down a clearing kick from first five-eighth Braedyn Grant. Left-footer Grant is a smart young player but the big, powerful Westrupp was fearless in the attempt. It was one of four occasions when the visitors almost broke through early in the game.
At the 19-minute mark, Hinaki’s fellow winger McKinley scored an intercept try for 10-0 and in the 25th minute, the powerful, athletic Te Kani scored the first try of his double. Upon Hall kicking the first of his three conversions, OBM went to the break 17-0 up.
Scoreline notwithstanding, the physical presence and ability of the Uawa crew was evident. Veteran tighthead prop John Mathias carried the ball with aplomb and hit in the tackle as hard as any other man for either side. Lock Rikki Kernohan was great value for Uawa at the lineout in his two stints on the field and, while OBM have in second-rower Duran Smith a very good jumper anywhere, Uawa will no doubt win more than their fair share of ball in a Ngati Porou East Coast club season set to start on May 7.
Allen made a strong carry shortly after the resumption and Uawa loosehead prop-cum-lock Wyntah Riki followed that up with the strongest surge and most combative run of the game. He went through five players near halfway, centrefield.
Juston Allen did much the same from start to finish for OBM in three different positions — loosehead prop, lock and No 6.
Allen’s teammates, fetcher Keanu Taumata and second-five Leroy Taiapa, can likewise be proud of their contribution to a game played in the best spirit of rugby.
In the 38th minute, Te Kani dropped the hammer for OBM again, completing his double for 22-0. Hall did the honours for 24-0. In the 45th minute, Hall converted his own try, OBM’s fifth of the day, for 31-0 to close the second period.
Still Uawa came on. Their dangerous centre Jesse Rye and championship-winning goal-kicker and captain of 2021 Parkes lifted the big blue team in the last period.
Uawa never throw in the towel, and their courage was rewarded in the 61st minute. The late try by Tamanui-Nepia — a young titan — eight metres to the left of the posts was converted by Parkes, and the final score was OBM 31, Uawa 7.
Referee Thomas said: “There was banter but both teams were very well behaved. There are a few new laws for us all to get our heads around and keep an eye out for.”
One that he highlighted related to the “50-22”. In this event a player who kicked from inside his own half into touch in the opposition 22 would earn his team the lineout throw . . . it didn’t happen in this game.
