YMP versus Ngatapa heart-attack material

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

YMP player-coach Reihana Wyllie said the last five-minute spell of his team’s 32-22 win against Ngatapa was heart-attack material.

“Once Willie (Brown) kicked the penalty, we knew we would move above Ngatapa on the points table but we turned the ball over twice in the last five minutes and Ngatapa needed only a penalty to keep them in third place,” said Wyllie, who collected three points as man of the match, with a tremendous display wearing the No.12 jersey.

“In the end it doesn’t really matter who you play in the semis — it’s all about who turns up on the day — but it is good to go into the game on the back of a win and a good performance.”

Wyllie said it was “good of Ngatapa” to give him the three points.

“Personally, my man of the match was our fullback, Brian Whaitiri-White. Brian had a hand in all four tries, especially (winger) Jeremy Ferris’s second, which was our fourth. Brian had very little room to move close to the touchline but he tiptoed his way along the line, beating a defender before passing to Jeremy.”

Two players were sinbinned — Ngatapa midfield back Anthony Karauria and YMP flanker Shayde Skudder, with Skudder in danger of missing the semi.

“It’s his third yellow card but we will be contesting any suspension,” Wyllie said.

Tries to centre Mangu Kemp and winger Christie Stewart in the first half, along with a Whaitiri-White conversion and a Brown penalty had YMP 16-0 up as the teams went to the middle.

“If YMP put in another two performances like this one, they could win the competition,” Ngatapa coach Will Faulks said.

“They played well, and every time we came back at them and scored a try they would come straight back with a try. At no stage did we get closer than eight points, which was disappointing.”

Although on the losing side, tighthead prop Todd Harris and lock Semisi Akana played well.

YMP 32 (Jeremy Ferris 2, Mangu Kemp, Christie Stewart tries; Brian Whaitiri-White 2 cons, Willie Brown 2 pen).

Ngatapa 22 (Sione Ngatu, Henry Seymour, Chris Richardson tries; Chris Richardson 2 con).

HT: 16-0 (YMP).

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PIRATES were no match for a rampant Waikohu, who outscored their opposition 14 tries to three in their 106-20 demolition.

Pirates prop Rob Broughton opened the scoring with a try in the sixth minute, only for Waikohu No.8 Tapu Dixon to reply two minutes later with a six-pointer, which he converted.

With both sides out of contention for the playoffs, the call went out: “no kicking; just run the ball”.

Loosie Everard Reid restored Pirates’ lead with a solo effort in the 15th minute but from then on it was all Waikohu, and they led 36-12 at halftime.

First five-eighth Ra Marshall extended the lead shortly after halftime with a try, which replacement back Mat Ruru converted. Ruru finished with 22 points from two tries and five conversions.

Although not on the scoresheet, lock Neal Rutherford and coach Tahi Hiroki, who came on in the second half, played well.

Waikohu 106 (Toru Noanoa 2, Mario Counsell 2, Ra Marshall 2, Matt Ruru 2, Fagan Ruru 2, Tapu Dixon, Sandy Campbell, Hayden Rutene, Kimihia Matiah=a tries; Mat Ruru 5, Tapu Dixon 2, Sonny Campbell 2, Ra Marshall, Tulsa Kaui con).

Pirates 20 (Rob Broughton, Everard Reid, James Tipoki tries; Bernard Nepe con).

HT: 36-12.