Ngatapa kept pace with Waikohu through most of the first half and looked as if they would go to the sheds locked at 5-5. However, Waikohu scored three quick tries to take a convincing lead into halftime.
On every metric other than the scoreboard, it looked like a tight game, with the major difference being in how well attacks were converted to points.
Waikohu scored several tries when they made breaks around the fringes of the ruck after they quickly recycled the ball and caught Ngatapa still trying to get organised.
Ngatapa looked good, and played with structure and a purpose that had not been seen this season.
Their tries were well worked and came off the back of continued pressure in the Waikohu 22, but their efforts weren’t enough to overcome the men from Te Karaka.
It looked as if the teams were evenly matched on the paddock, but Waikohu kept increasing their scoreline with a dynamic attack, while Ngatapa had to slowly build up their offence to break through.
Waikohu had a clear size advantage across the park and used their muscle to push Ngatapa around. They were operating at such a high work rate that, at times, it seemed as if they had twice as many men on the field.
Ngatapa coach Stephen Hickey said they were in the game with good attacking rugby, but they lost their way at times with lapses in concentration.
The final five minutes of the first half, when Waikohu piled on 21 unanswered points, changed the nature of the game and Ngatapa were unable to recover, he said.
“When they play that fast and positive rugby, they’re hard to beat.”
The teams were evenly matched up front, but Ngatapa “went to sleep at times”, which cost them at vital moments, he said.
“We just switched off . . . I think we must’ve had some tasty oranges and lollies at halftime that we were thinking about.”
