Captain lock Scott Lasenby’s Uawa, who now have the iconic trophy previously won by Hikurangi 29-19 v Tokararangi in Ruatoria on May 19 last year, chose as their Most Valuable Player four-try hero right-wing Brian Mitchell.
Fullback BJ Sidney scored a hat-trick, with a try each to openside flanker Jack Richardson, first-five Sam Parkes, left-wing Tipene Meihana, second-five Chris Richardson, reserve tighthead prop Dan Knubley and reserve second-five Dru Hunt.
Tokomaru Bay United’s sole try-scorer at Tolaga Bay was No.8 Tupou Taliauli, that try being converted by second-five Sebastian Chambers-Raroa. United’s MVP halfback Petera Smith was lively, positive and courageous, despite the home team leading 33-7 at half-time in what subsequently became one-way traffic.
United’s Daryl Goldsmith noted that he and co-coach Kuru Gray had seen more players (18) at training, than were available at the weekend.
“The physicality and attrition made it hard for us but Uawa played really well — they’ve been together for a few years now, and it shows.”
One win can turn a team’s entire season around.
And history may yet show that to have been the case for Tokararangi in Week 7. Inspired at home, they came from 12-14 down at the break to beat Hikurangi 27-26.
Hikurangi halfback Neihana Ratahi-Brown scored the game’s opening try 15 minutes into the first half: in the 20th minute, his teammate lock Tapui Blane followed suit. Both tries were converted by fullback Fabyan Kahaki.
Twenty-five minutes into the game, left-wing Te Aho Haenga scored to put the home team on the board: Tokararangi 5, Hikurangi 14. And in the 36th minute, Tokararangi openside flanker Alec Poi scored the first of his two tries — converted by first-five Slade Tiopira — to cut “The Maunga’s” lead to two points.
Poi scored again in the 48th minute and with Tiopira’s conversion, Tokararangi went 19-14 up: their first lead of the game.
Hikurangi’s depth and quality then came to the fore, as reserve wings Aomuri Parata (right then left) and Tanetoa Parata (right) scored Hikurangi’s third and fouth tries. Kahaki converted Aomuri’s try for 21-19 in the 54th minute but was unable to convert Tanetoa’s try in the 61st minute: the visitors led 26-19.
Sixty-nine minutes into the game, Tokararangi received a penalty from referee Peter Matahiki and their captain No.8 Hone Haerewa took a tap-kick and charged 5m at the Hikurangi forward pack on the goal line to score.
Tiopira missed the conversion attempt (Hikurangi being 26-24 ahead) but became the toast of the town in the 78th minute. It was in that moment — 26m back, in front of the posts — that he kicked his first penalty goal of the match for 27-26, and victory.
Haerewa, who led by example, said: “It was everything you’d expect from Toka v Hiku on a day for running rugby with awesome tries scored out wide. Alec, our openside flanker Manahi Brooking, loosehead prop Chris Bristowe and MVP lock Frank Henderson, they all got us good go-forward ball and ran hard.”
Hikurangi captain hooker Ngarimu Parata had No.8 Rhys Walker and openside flanker Trent Proffit among his best — Walker for his excellent work at the lineout, courtesy of his lifters tighthead prop Putahi Morice and lock Te Maera Warmenhoven; MVP Proffit for his tough tackling.
TVC beat them.
Tihirau Victory Club brought the five-game winning streak of former competition leaders Hicks Bay to an end 29-19 at Wharekahika on Saturday.
“We won the toss, chose to play into the wind, weather the storm and have the nor’wester behind us in the second half; we had to beat them at their own game: in tight, up front,” said TVC captain first-five Mo Mato.
Hicks Bay manager Graeme Summersby said: “TVC played much better to conditions than we did — they played very well. The first 15 minutes were played in our half.”
The visitors began as they meant to carry on: openside flanker Kuhu Haweti scored in the seventh minute. Centre Peti Delamere converted that try for 7-0 to TVC.
Hicks Bay second-five Blue Walker scored in the 28th minute which, with first-five Ben Haerewa’s conversion, made the score 7-all before TVC first-five Verdon Bartlett upped the ante. His brilliant individual try in the 36th minute — converted by Delamere for 14-7 — gave Mato’s crew that half-time lead.
In the 51st minute, lock Hoani Te Moana scored for the visitors (19-7), then Delamere scored himself for 24-7 in the 66th minute. Hicks Bay No.8 Anton King grabbed a try in 71st minute, 12-24, then TVC reserve blindside flanker Willie Ford scored for 29-12 in the 76th minute and Hicks Bay’s King made it a double on full-time: Haerewa converted. TVC won 29-19.
King had been outstanding for Hicks Bay, and shared their MVP award with centre Dominic Wilson; for TVC, Haweti had that honour.
TVC No.8 Solomon Vaka also played a great all-round game and carried the ball powerfully.
Just as TVC snapped Uawa’s winning streak at five games in Tolaga Bay last season, they have done the same thing to Hicks Bay at Wharekahika in 2019.
The irony is not lost.
