A BRACE: Trent Proffit scored two tries for Hikurangi. File picture by Doone Harrison
RUGBY
In came the big guns.
Uawa came off their opening-day bye like a blue tank in Week 2, winning their away game against Ruatoria City 75-15.
The Tolaga Bay-based team outscored City by 10 tries to two.
Second five-eighth Jordan Birch scored two tries, and hooker Wyntah Riki, tighthead prop Laman Davies, lock Matt Jefferd, blindside flanker Storm Moran, No.8 Adaam Ross, centre Jesse Rye, left wing Tee Paenga, fullback BJ Sidney and first-five Chris Richardson scored a try each. Richardson also kicked two penalty goals and four conversions. Halfback Sam Parkes kicked three conversions.
Ruatoria City’s try-scorers at home were lock Tahu White and right wing Dennis Te Kahika. No.8 Nathaniel Fox kicked a penalty and a conversion. The visitors led 36-10 at half-time in excellent conditions before a crowd of 200 at Whakarua Park.
“We had excellent pre-season hit-outs against OBM and Ngatapa,” Uawa coach Tip Nukunuku said.
“Everything we’ve trained to do, we did today.
“We dominated set-piece through the likes of Laman (Davies) at the scrum. Storm (Moran) and Adaam (Ross) were awesome up front as well.”
Nukunuku said Chris Richardson’s tactical kicking was good, too, but the Uawa MVP (most valuable player) was left wing Tee Paenga.
Nukunuku and his crew have reason to be confident heading into their first home game next weekend, against the dangerous Hikurangi.
Hikurangi — The Maunga (mountain) — extended a 28-5 halftime lead to beat Tokomaru Bay United 68-12 on Saturday.
Openside flanker Trent Proffit and reserve left wing Hone Manuel scored two tries each. Lock Te Maera Warmenhoven, halfback Neihana Ratahi-Brown, second-five Te Hira Matahiki, fullback and MVP Fabyan Kahaki, reserve blindside flanker Te Rangi Matanuku Parata and reserve second-five Rob Ngarimu all scored tries, Kahaki also converting nine of the visitors’ 10 tries.
Hikurangi coach Doone Harrison gave this assessment: “United have a stack of first-timers and young players — they’re in a rebuilding phase but those same guys have a lot of potential if they stay hard. A few of our youngsters got some minutes as well: (lock) Maui Baker, Hone (Manuel) and Putahi Morice (blindside flanker-cum-lock-cum-tighthead prop).”
The home team scored two tries, through No.8 Saul Parata and fullback Maciu Nawaqa. First-five Matt Marino landed one conversion.
United’s MVP at Hatea-a-rangi was No.8 Paola Tatafu.
“Paulo deserves that award,” United captain and loosehead prop Adam Williams said.
“He’s gutsy, and he ran hard, low and straight to take the team forward.
“We scored early on and late in the game, and made a lot of tackles in between. Our scrums weren’t too bad but we’ve got a lot to work on.”
Hicks Bay versus Tokararangi at Te Araroa Domain is always feisty.
But it’s also a fixture played in good spirit. In Week 2, Hicks Bay seized the day 32-15, big No.8 Anton King scoring two tries, with a try each to player-coach and halfback Tyrone Delamere and co-captain and fullback Sean Murtagh.
Right wing Leyth Delamere kicked two penalties and three conversions.
King and lock Weihana Delamere shared the visitors’ MVP award. Hicks Bay led 20-3 at halftime.
For the home team, captain and No.8 Hone Haerewa scored two tries. First-five Slade Tiopira kicked a penalty and a conversion. Tokararangi’s MVP was halfback Taylor Hovell.
“Our players have been doing their own individual fitness training and we’re also working on our structure at the moment,” Tokararangi coach Morgan Wirepa junior said.
“I thought referee Harawira Matahiki had a very good game. He was consistent.”