Rugby: Waipu find winning form

Taine Rogers surges forward during what was his first start at lock for Waipu. Photo / John Stone

Northpine Waipu have locked in their first win of the Bayleys Southern Districts Premier season by downing the Western Sharks 43-17 at Caledonian Park.

Describing their start to the season as "short-term pain for long-term gain," Waipu head coach Mark Wells said trying to play under a new expansive structure has had its challenges.

"It was good to finally get a win after three losses," he said.

"It's tough when you've got new players coming in every year to get them to gel. It's just taken us a little bit longer than we thought it would.

"But they're starting to work together as a team rather than 15 individuals, and they're buying into the structure of what we're trying to do and it's starting to show."

Finally finding their stride as they took to the field on Saturday, Waipu played with fusion across the park as they hacked away at the Western Sharks line.

Dangerous on the counter attack, Waipu were also able to overcome their second-half hoodoo - something that's been haunting their progression on the points table.

"We were very unlucky last week against Otamatea. We just took our foot off the gas at halftime after being 26-12 up they scored a couple of tries and we choked," Wells said.

Stepping up with a renewed sense of focus versus the Western Sharks, Wells said: "That was the first time we've scored a point in the second half in the last six games."

"They've won two and drawn one. So we handed them their first loss," he added.

"We didn't change anything, we just stuck with the structure and we finally played it for longer than 40 minutes.

"We just attacked and tried to drive them back. The boys stayed focused and away we went."

Highlighting some key players from the dominant victory, Wells said Erenino Tau "had a massive game at centre".

"He's playing out of position; he's a wing normally."

Livs Tuicakau at fullback "just carved up from the back," he added.

"He just cut through the field straight away. Every time he got the ball he looked good."

Also worthy of a mention was 18-year-old Sione Taliai.

"He's got an engine like [Richie] McCaw. He's just unbelievable."

"We still butchered three tries, so there's still more to come."

In other matches in the Southern Districts Premier grade, Hora Hora beat Old Boys Marist in a closely fought 24-22 win.

Kamo and Mid Western battled out a 22-all draw.

In the remaining fixture of the round, Mid Northern annihilated Otamatea in a 65-20 hiding at Hukerenui.

Due to a bereavement, the scheduled match between Hikurangi and Wellsford was abandoned.

Southern Districts Premier: Hora Hora 24 Old Boys Marist 22, Kamo 22 Mid Western 22, Mid Northern 65 Otamatea 20, Waipu 43 Western Sharks 17.

Southern Districts Premier Reserve: Hora Hora 7 Old Boys Marist 57, Kamo 41 Mid Western 5, Mid Northern 29 Otamatea 12, Waipu 15 Western Sharks 12.

Division 1: Mangakahia 32 Pipiwai 26, Southern 38 Kaihu 32, Whangaruru 31 Ruawai 10