A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.
RUGBY
There are things far bigger than rugby.
The tragic crash on Makorori Hill — and subsequent road closure — certainly qualifies and is the reason a number of town-based players were unable to turn out for their respective teams in East Coast club rugby on Saturday.
As a result, Tokomaru Bay United, who were to host Tihirau Victory Club at Hatea-a-Rangi, and Waiapu, who had a home game against Tokararangi in Rangitukia, were unable to take the field.
TVC and Tokararangi took the maximum five competition points for a win by default.
On the field, competition leaders Hikurangi avenged their first-round loss to Uawa 23-20 to reclaim the Charlie Keelan Memorial Shield in Tolaga Bay.
Ruatoria City sneaked home 24-19 over Hicks Bay at Wharekahika.
Hikurangi remain top of the table on 44 points, 2017 champions TVC are on 42, Uawa have 40 and Tokararangi (33) make up the top four 10 weeks into the 16-week season.
City are fifth on 19, followed by Hicks Bay on 12, United also 12 and Waiapu on 5.
'Proud of effort'“We’re very proud of the effort,” Hikurangi coach Doone Harrison said of the Maunga’s away win over the Awa (Uawa).
“Both games we’ve played (against each other this season) have gone down to the last minute and had a real finals feel to them.
“We lost Uncle Chas’s trophy in round 1 but have that back now.”
Harrison said the boot of Hikurangi player of the day and first-five Aho Morice was the difference in an ideal setting for rugby — 20 degrees, clear skies, a firm turf and negligible wind.
The visitors led 20-0 at the break.
Morice scored a try of his own in the 10th minute and centre Rob Ngarimu finished brilliantly for a five-pointer in the 18th.
Morice kicked both conversions, one from the right touchline, and added two penalty goals.
A ferocious Uawa hit back after halftime with three tries in 10 minutes before Hikurangi, as is the rugby parlance “had even touched the ball”.
No.8 Kerehama Blackman, left-wing Tipene Meihana and fullback BJ Sidney crossed.
Morice’s third penalty in the 60th minute made it 23-15 only for Sidney to score his second try in the 72nd to reduce the deficit to 23-20.
Uawa were awarded a penalty in the shadow of the posts with two minutes to play but opted to tap and run.
Two phases later, Hikurangi turned over the ball and cleared to touch to safeguard victory.
Hikurangi played 20 minutes of the game with 14 men. Blindside flanker Trent Proffit receiving a yellow card from referee Troy Para at the 20 minute-mark and tighthead prop Tahu Walker was binned in the 60th minute.
Morice, though, was the man most often in the spotlight, and he came up trumps.
Just breatheThat’s what Ruatoria City had to do after being pushed to the limit by Hicks Bay.
City won 29-24, with tries to centre Taiaho White, left-wing Dennis Te Kahaki, openside flanker-cum-second-five-eighth-cum-halfback Jack Richardson and player of the day and hooker Peter Waitoa.
Second five Nathaniel Fox kicked three conversions and landed a penalty 90 seconds from fulltime.
Hicks Bay achieved a feat rarely seen at any level of rugby — the entire starting front-row of Aaron King, Richard King and Norm Hooper scoring tries. Centre Tony Swinton also scored and left wing Leyth Delamere slotted two conversions.
Hicks Bay’s player of the day was athletic, hard-working openside flanker Bradiee Heu.
“Both teams played well but City capitalised on our mistakes,” said Hicks Bay coach and second five Warren Henderson, who collected a yellow card from referee James Palmer 20 minutes into the first half of a tight, tough encounter.
“The game was close,” said City coach Lisa Muller. “A number of teams missed players because they couldn’t get through from town. Jack (Richardson) arrived late and had to come off the bench.”
City captain No 8 Tim Barbarich was relieved.
“We’re happy to get the bonus point-win but made very hard work of it as Hicks Bay came to play and threw the kitchen sink at us,
“Hicks Bay controlled the speed of the game, we struggled to get into it, he said. “We can certainly play better than that.”