"We identified areas where we were going wrong and individuals owned up - the team took control of what was going wrong and sorted it out themselves. We just provided the vehicle for them to do that, we had a team meeting on Tuesday and that was it."
Tauranga have lost a number of key players from the side that won last year's competition, with most of this year's team in their early 20s. "I'm proud of them, it was a great effort," Pou said. "You can see the smiles on their faces, they enjoyed the win."
In other premier matches, Pacific Sharks caused an upset with a 30-20 win over the Pikiao Warriors, Pikiao's first loss of the season, while the Otumoetai Eels had a 34-14 win over Taupo Phoenix in Taupo to go top of the table again.
In windy, ice-cold conditions in Taupo, the Bay Sprint Couriers Eels won a tough battle. With the wind at their backs in the first half the cold temperatures seemed to restrict the Eels to keeping the game simple by playing the basics with a minimum of errors before unleashing their backs with precision, resulting in the flying expresso Ryan Gordon dotting down for this second hat-trick for the season.
Half Josh Weeden's precision kicking had Taupo on the back foot and with pocket rocket hooker Mikaere October opening the opposition up through the middle with his dummy half runs Taupo was always struggling to stay in touch.
With Otumoetai's remaining game against bottom of the table Central in Rotorua this coming Saturday it is safe to assume the Eels will head into the WaiCoa Bays top eight championship round as top dog from the local competition. Pikiao has to beat Taupo by 14 this Saturday to get second seed over Pacific, who has the bye this weekend and cannot gain anymore game points.
In the other match Tauranga take on Forestland Falcons, with both these teams already relegated to the WaiCoa Bays second tier competition for the rest of the season. With only a 1 v 2 Bay of Plenty final the week after the WaiCoa Bays grand final on August 11, the Taupo-Pikiao clash will determine who of Pikiao and Pacific gets to meet Otumoetai in that final.
Taniwharau, Turangawaewae, Hamilton City Tigers and Ngaruawahia have qualified as Waikato's four top sides.
Scorers:
Tauranga Whalers 30 (Floy Te Kani 2, Kawana Kingi, Jarrod Irving, Jason Tamanui, Leroy Marumaru tries; Anaru Taute 2, Te Kani cons) Central Lions 14 (Jesse Sheck, Kete Sagato, Rob Gillespie tries; Jason Walker con).
Pacific 30 Pikiao 20, Taupo 14 Otumoetai 34, Forestland bye.
Points: Otumoetai, Pacific, Pikiao 10, Taupo 6, Forestland, Tauranga, Central 4.
Premier reserve: Pacific 42, Pikiao 12; Central 54, Tauranga 10; Ngongotaha 54, Forestland 14; Taupo 30, Otumoetai 36; Putaruru 32, Mangakino 60; Reporoa 32, Turangi 28.
Points: Pacific, Mangakino 12, Otumoetai 10, Pikiao 8, Taupo 6, Ngongotaha, Reporoa and Turangi 4, Central, Putaruru, Tauranga, Forestland 2.
BMX: Worlds plan
BikeNZ has appointed Jane Patterson as event director of the UCI BMX World Championships to be staged in the city next July. Patterson owns and runs The Patter Ltd which provides the management of a number of high profile events including Ironman New Zealand and the Port of Tauranga Half, and she was the CEO of the highly successful 2007 Netball World Championships in Auckland.
The company also owns and runs a number of grass roots level women-only multisport events under the REAL brand.
Since taking up the position last month, Patterson has been focusing on the strategic business and operations plan for the event and attended the recent BMX Supercross World Cup in California with key New Zealand BMX figures where she held meetings with UCI and industry officials.
Federation football: Taupo in control
Melville United were given a lesson by Taupo at the fortress of Crown Park where the home side won 7-1 to remain unbeaten at the top of the Waikato-Bay of Plenty football league.
Playing with control and composure, Taupo, with goals to Byron Thessmen, Alan Lamb and Jesse Smith, led 3-0 at halftime. Although they conceded a goal in the second half, Chris Roberts, Lamb and two more goals to Thessmen to complete his hat-trick, gave Taupo a convincing win.
Before Saturday's clash against Claudelands Rovers, Whakatane Town were unbeaten at Rex Morpeth Park this season, and although Luke Searle gave them the lead Rovers went to the break on level terms and scored the only goal in the second half to win 2-1. Whakatane coach Mike McLeod was philosophical. "It wasn't our day today we lacked a spark to lift our game."
Ngongotaha manager Ben Pragnell wondered if the petrol money was worth it after the Villagers and Otorohanga drew 0-0 at Domain Drive. Otorohanga started with a defensive formation which suggested they would have be happy with a draw. Ngongotaha had the ball in the net twice - only to have the goals ruled out - but failed to take advantage of their territorial and possession advantage.
Otumoetai and Tauranga Boys' College played out a scoreless first half at Fergusson Park before Tim Miller latched onto a long clearance from keeper Graeme Blissett to break the deadlock. It looked as though the home team would hold on to their narrow lead but in the 87th minute Tauranga Boys' equalised. Matt Fisher stood out for Otumoetai, who would be disappointed with the result.
Bottom of the table Rotorua United gained a valuable point with a 1-1 away draw against AFC Fury. Brad Hill gave United the lead in the 10th minute but Fury equalised in the 75th minute. "We played quite well and could have come away with a win," United coach Neil Rush said. "Fury are not a bad side so on reflection I am happy with a point."
Seven goals in the Old Blues v Waikato Unicol clash gave the spectators plenty of entertainment but wasn't good for the coaches' blood pressure. In the end it was Old Blues who prevailed 4-3.
In division two, Clube Alegria stay in second place after a 3-0 win over bottom of the table Matamata, Katikati were too good for Rotorua United winning 3-0 and Cambridge defeated West Hamilton 3-0. Te Awamutu and Tokoroa battled to a 0-0 draw.
Federation 1 League: Taupo 7 Melville United 1; Otorohanga 0 Ngongotaha 0; Otumoetai 1 Tauranga Boys' College 1; AFC Fury 1 Rotorua United 1; Whakatane Town 1 Claudelands Rovers 2; Old Blues 4 Waikato Unicol 3.
Federation 2 League: Matamata Swifts 0 HRFC Clube Alegria 3; Rotorua United 0 Katikati 3; Te Awamutu 0 Tokoroa 0; West Hamilton 0 Cambridge 3; Tauranga City bye.
Club rugby: Leaders battle
Competition leaders Arataki Black had to battle hard to secure their points at Gordon Spratt Reserve in the Seeka KI Western Bay of Plenty club rugby championship on Saturday.
Papamoa's forwards were dominant early with their now well-known style of bullish play. After a period of rolling mauls and forward drives the pack drove over the top of their opposition to take the first points. Arataki' s confidence and well established backline finally got enough quality ball to put a slick backline move together to even the scores at 5-all at the break.
Straight after halftime Arataki ran in their second try. After 15 minutes the visitors injected some fresh legs which had an immediate impact with Arataki's third try. Papamoa hit back with a penalty to trail 15-8 but conceded a fourth try gave them the win 22-8 to keep them at the top of the competition.
Matakana Island took on the improving Greerton B. Determined to take maximum points from every game to keep their Baywide chances alive, Matakana were too strong for the home side, winning 41-25.
Rangataua made full use of an unscheduled home field advantage to come out victors in a close battle with Rangiuru at Te Ariki 20-19.
Te Puke Sport battled hard at home but were not strong enough to repeal a Te Puna side that is on the rise, going down 33-12, while Katikati piled on early points against arch-rivals Judea at Maharaia Winiata Park but lost structure and staggered their way to an unconvincing 47-7 win. Tauranga Sports justified their spot second on the points table with a 64-6 demolition of Eastern Districts at Paengaroa.
The Arataki club have some decisions to make regarding the future of their second team this week. After a good start to the season, Arataki Red is now struggling for numbers and defaulted to Mount Maunganui at the weekend.
Seeka KI Western Bay senior results:
Rangiuru 19 Rangataua 20, Judea 7 Katikati 43, Eastern Districts 6 Tauranga Sports 64, Te Puke Sports 12 Te Puna 33, Arataki Red defaulted to Mount Maunganui, Papamoa 8 Arataki Black 22, Greerton Marist 25 Matakana Island 41.
Netball: Meet the Magic
Selected Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic players will be out and about at supermarkets over the next few weeks to meet fans and chat to shoppers about the merits of the team's new sponsor, StepOut socks and tights.
StepOut is a wholly owned and operated Kiwi company selling hoisery.
The Magic will be appearing at the following stores in May and June to sign autographs and give away product incentives:
Wed May 23: New World Te Rapa, 3.30-4.30pm, Casey Williams and Leanna de Bruin, New World Waihi, 3.30-4.30pm, Julianna Naoupu and Arahi Wall.
Tuesay May 29: New World Rototuna, 3.30-4.30pm, Laura Langman and Khao Watts.
Wed May 30: New World Mt Maunganui, 3.30-4.00pm, Irene van Dyk and Julianna Naoupu.
Wed June 6: Pak N Save Clarence St, Hamilton, 3.30-4.00pm, Irene van Dyk and Sulu Tone-Fitzpatrick.
Athletics: Sally to the fore
Katikati's Sally Gibbs is at it again, winning Sunday's Huntly half marathon in a personal best time of 1h 17m 46s, which was also a national masters record.
Gibbs, who turns 49 in two weeks, showed a clean pair of heals to the rest of the women's field, with her time also cutting 1m 19s off her own New Zealand masters age group record. She finished almost 3mins ahead of Hamilton's Maria Bentley.
"I'm really happy with that time; I didn't taper off for today. I felt as good as you feel for a half marathon and we had brilliant conditions - perfect, with a lot of guys there who were handy to pace off," said Gibbs.
Her next goal is the Gold Coast full marathon on 1 July.
Tauranga's Gavin Smith was second in the masters men 50-59 division in 1h 24m 44s.
Interest growsHockey: With two more weeks of pool play before the 14-club men's Intercity hockey competition breaks into the top six championship round and mid 4/bottom 4 rounds for the remaining clubs, Saturday's games had heightened interest.
CMS Mount Maunganui made sure they stayed in contention with a workmanlike 6-1 win over Onewhero at the Tauranga Hockey Centre. However, the visitors stung their hosts into action by scoring in the second minute of the game. Mount replied with four goals before the interval, featuring the mastery of striker Lincoln Churchill in most of them.
With Mt Maunganui in control of the match, it lost a dash of intensity in the second half, before they added twice more to their tally.
Bayleys Otumoetai struck the first of the top-line clubs and suffered their first defeat this season, 2-0 at the hands of last year's finalists University. Otumoetai had the measure of Uni in the first quarter and were unlucky not to score from their opportunities.
Then the students got into their stride, forcing a diving save from Otumoetai 'keeper Geoff Williamson from a penalty corner, before they scored in the 20th minute from a lobbed shot. This was followed by a well-worked goal ten minutes later, allowing Uni to turn two goals up. Numerous penalty corners were forced by a dominant Uni attack in the second spell and Williamson was called on to make more saves.
In a close-fought game at Hamilton, Bayleys Otumoetai women squeezed through for a 6-5 win after University drew level twice during the second half. The result relegated University to the bottom four for the second half of the competition.
Otumoetai women were undefeated in pool play but were held to a 2-2 draw by the young Fraser Tech team in a deferred cross-over game last Tuesday, which sets up an intriguing clash in the top six championship round.
Mt Maunganui women were downed 2-0 by Franklin Barbarians, with the two lower-ranked clubs playing out a spirited match at the Tauranga Hockey Centre, with Franklin looking more inventive and being rewarded with two goals from fleet-footed Trishna Abernethy.
Intercity scores:
Premier Men:
Mt Maunganui 6 (Lincoln Churchill 4, Brad McKenzie 2) Onewhero 1 (Zane Anderson), HT 4-1.
Waikato University 2 (Nick Trebilcock, Gaurav Correa) Otumoetai 0, HT 2-0.
Fraser Tech 12 Varsity Reserves 1.
Te Awamutu 8 Rotorua Indians 2, HT 4-1.
Rotorua Aces 4 Waiau Pa 3, HT 3-1.
Kohekohe 1 Suburbs OB 0.
Thames Valley 4 Pukekohe Indians 1.
Points: Pool A: Fraser Tech 12, Mt Maunganui 12, Thames Valley 9, Kohekohe 6, Suburbs OB 6, Onewhero 0, Varsity Reserves 0. Pool B: Rotorua Aces 9, Otumoetai 9, University 9, Waiau Pa 6, Pukekohe Indians 6, Te Awamutu 0, Rotorua Indians 0.
Premier Women:
Otumoetai 6 (Dani Shepherd, Dani Maunder 2, Monique Eades 2, Katrina Carson) Waikato University 5, HT 3-1.
Franklin Barbarians 2 (Trishna Abernathy) Mt Maunganui 0, HT 1-0.
Fraser Tech 1 (Kim Gill) Rotorua Aces 0, HT 1-0.
Onewhero 1 Taupo 0, HT 0-0.
Hamilton Old Girls 3 Te Awamutu 2.
Points: Pool A: Otumoetai 12, Hamilton Old Girls 7, Onewhero 4, University 3, Taupo 1. Pool B: Fraser Tech 12, Aces 7, Te Awamutu 6, Franklin 4, Mount 0.
Game drawnFootball: Tauranga City United have slipped back to sixth in the Northern League's second division after a 0-0 away stalemate on Saturday with lowly Auckland side Fencibles.
In a game where they should have bagged all three points against a side that was sitting equal bottom of the league with just one win, Tauranga couldn't find the net and dropped behind Warkworth on goal difference.
Hibiscus Coast regained the lead with a 2-1 win over North Shore and are now two points clear of Shore at the top on 24, seven clear of Tauranga.
Tauranga return home to Links Ave this Sunday (2.30pm) and host eighth-placed Waiuku, who thrashed Matamata Swifts 5-1 at the weekend.
Second division scores:
North Shore 1 (Peter Bryson) Hibiscus Coast 2 (Daniel Cyra, Daniel Bungard). HT: 0-0.
Mangere United 3 (Chris Abbott 2, Sameer Ali) Manukau City 2 (William McClure, Hone Fowler). HT: 1-1.
Onehunga Mangere 2 (Navid Aminian 2) Western Springs 6 (Matthew Wildman 3, Dean Brereton 2, Luke Petrie). HT: 0-4.
Waiuku 5 (Derek Sinclair 3, Matthew Whittaker, Daniel Baldwin) Matamata 1 (Jack McNab). HT: 1-0.
Fencibles 0 Tauranga City 0.
Warkworth 3 (Rob Carty pen, Cody Piper, Mike O'Flaherty) Papakura City 0. HT: 1-0.