“The game was physical — everything we expected from them.”
The newly marked surface of Te Karaka Domain was in perfect condition. About 900 fans took in a game played at pace from the kick-off.
Matakaoa fullback Shaun Murtagh got by Waikohu lock Kupu Lloyd on the challengers’ first carry before two tacklers brought his 15-metre run to a grinding halt.
The hosts’ dynamic inside backs were not to be outdone. First five-eighth Ethine Reeves wrong-footed his marker on the left side of the ground in Matakaoa territory, and halfback Rawiri Broughton made an explosive burst into the visitors’ 22 from a lineout off the right touch.
Tauatevalu opened the scoring four minutes into the game with a try in the left corner, and conversion by him, for 7-0.
In the sixth minute, Matakaoa second-five Te Kooti Kingi made a magnificent tackle on Tauatevalu and shortly after the visitors — driven from a lineout to the try-line by Waikohu — held the home team up in the right corner.
It took a superb pass from Broughton nine minutes in to see right wing KC Wilson make that corner, which — with Tauatevalu’s conversion — made it 14-0.
In the 16th minute, Matakaoa right wing William Martin brought the crowd to their feet with a burst down the sideline and moments later his skilful teammate, halfback Israel Brown, rushed 10m from the base of a scrum set 15m off the left touch in Waikohu territory.
In the 20th minute, the challengers’ great-hearted captain and loosehead prop, Aaron Reedy, was shown the yellow card by Poverty Bay referee Les Thomas but in the 24th minute, the Coast team struck pay dirt.
Openside flanker and Matakaoa MVP (most valuable player) Hone Haerewa featured twice in a seven-phase movement — with Broughton and hard-running prop Mike Saddlier also on the charge — before hooker Jody Tuhaka scored 15m in from the right sideline, the result of a spirited team-effort.
The score was Waikohu 14, Matakaoa 5, and then Waikohu claimed their third try. Pari found blindside flanker Hayden Rutene at No.2 in a lineout five metres from the visitors’ goal-line off the right touch, and tighthead prop Tulsa Kaui scored after 26 minutes of play. Tauatevalu converted for 21-5.
Reeves made perhaps the play of the first half in the 37th minute, a brilliant wipers kick from 10m on his own side of halfway. It found touch five metres from the right corner. Tauatevalu scored and then kicked the conversion on halftime for 28-5.
Reedy played great rugby and he later spoke with humility of the pride he felt in leading a Matakaoa team who had met only on the Sunday morning of the game. He was joined by fellow veteran forwards such as reserve lock Willie Waitoa in giving Game 4 all they had.
Following the break, two players who earlier had set the tone for the clash — Reeves and Murtagh — were again prominent. Waikohu first-five Reeves made a fantastic tackle on Matakaoa fullback Murtagh.
Murtagh had a hand in the challengers’ second try, the ball going through four sets of hands before reserve first-five Jacob Leaf scored in the 47th minute to close it to 28-10.
After 51 minutes, rugged Waikohu No.8 Tristan Morten went through three defenders to score four metres to the right of the posts for 33-10 but following that, for the third time, he ran straight at Saddlier — who hit him in colossal fashion — for the last time. Both men were then substituted.
The game continued in quick time. In the 58th minute, the hosts claimed the only tighthead of the game and upon that Waikohu second-five Jesse Fleming scored. Tauatevalu converted for 40-10, and soon after sent a jet-pass to Reeves, who beat Martin near halfway down the left touch.
In the 66th minute, gutsy Matakaoa centre Teina Potae fielded a chip-kick from the Waikohu fullback to defuse a dangerous situation. Then, 74 minutes in, rampaging Matakaoa lock Dylan Evans found Brown in support and within seconds, Murtagh had scored to close it to 33-15.
Brown scored a try for the visitors in the 76th minute to make it 40-20 to the home team, and the game ended on a remarkable note . . . Pari hit a grubber kick through for Tauatevalu to make the final score 45-20 to the holders.
Referee Thomas did an excellent job, and games run by him are always played in good spirit.
Waikohu chose No.8 Tristan Morten as their MVP and coach Jason Tuapawa spoke with high regard for the opposition.
“Matakaoa didn’t give up — they stuck in there to the 80th minute. Full credit to them,” he said.
“Overall, it was a solid effort by our boys, having started very well and been as solid at set-piece as we have been all year.
“We perhaps moved away from our structure for a time in the first half, and there were tackles to be made — a gentle reminder at the break was all that was needed.”
Game 5 of the five-game sub-union season will pit holders Waikohu against Uawa, the team they beat 33-15 at Uawa Domain on September 2 last year for both the Barry Cup and the Jim Ruru Memorial Cup. Uawa’s reign began with the 22-20 epic against Matakaoa at Te Araroa Domain on August 30, 2015.
Kick-off at Te Karaka Domain will be 2.30pm this Sunday.
