Uawa respond to halftime rev-up

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

Every now and then, a man has to stamp his authority.

And that's exactly what player-coach Laman Davies did midway through Pango Productions Uawa's home game against Tokomaru Bay United.

“I told our boys that we were holding back, that we needed to sharpen up,” the veteran scrum-anchor said.

“We'd made too many mistakes, given 50-50 passes.”

Team No.6 Uawa beat club rugby's seventh-placed side 48-12, having led 22-7 at the break. Old-school fans thought it delicious that “engaging with fellow stakeholders” was out and a barrelling was in as the Big Blue crew were put back on track at Uawa Domain.

Fullback BJ Sidney deputised for the hosts' regular skipper, lock Paddy Allen, who was unwell. Sidney won the toss and chose an end, TBU skipper and tighthead prop Mike Chambers-Raroa opted to receive the ball playing into a mild nor'westerly breeze. In front of 300 fans, Uawa fired the first shot 10 minutes in with a try to workaholic hooker Moana Nuku.

Halfback Josh Dearden went in next after 25 minutes. First five-eighth Carlos Kemp converted both tries for 14-0.

Uawa centre Tawhao Stewart dotted down for 19-0 in the 31st minute, before Tokomaru Bay lit up the scoreboard after 36 minutes with a well-taken try by hooker Trei Apatu-Brown. Fullback Uzziah Parata converted.

Kemp kicked a penalty goal a minute from halftime to give Uawa a 22-7 lead.

Tokomaru Bay were still in the game at that stage. The unit that beat Hicks Bay 12-10 at Kawakawa mai Tawhiti on May 14 badly wanted a second away win.

But Davies' stern words had the desired effect on his team — immediately. Uawa reserve right wing Shayden Stevens ran 58 metres and dotted down behind United's posts 28 seconds after the resumption. Kemp converted for 29-7.

The next five-pointer was possibly the most popular try of the day. Uawa won a lineout eight metres from the left corner and after four probing phases, the ball went right to Kemp. He put up a crossfield bomb, Stevens caught the ball off the right touch and veteran loosehead prop John Mathias took the pass and made the corner for 34-7 after 57 minutes.

Stevens completed his double in the 65th minute, with Kemp kicking a conversion for 41-7.

In the 72nd minute, TBU dug deep. Blindside flanker Gilman Papuni, the visitors' MVP (most valuable player), had — with Chambers-Raroa and halfback Petera Smith, among others — driven and tackled himself to near-exhaustion. But it was lock Saul Parata who got their second try of the day to close it to 34-12. Kemp then put on a show with his ability to step off both feet, slicing through United's defence to score in the 79th minute. He converted his own try for 48-12.

Sidney, a reserved student of the game, said only that Uawa had played well enough to win, although they still had work-ons.

Davies spoke highly of both the opposition and the officials.

He said United were “really tough” and the game flowed because of excellent communication by referee Jimmy Green and assistant referee Daryl Goldsmith.