Thanks, coach with the most
Bay of Islands Top 4 final
Kerikeri 32 Ohaeawai 15 (10-12): Kerikeri's massive forward pack continued its unstoppable form from the domestic club rugby competition by trampling Ohaeawai's resistance into the soft turf on the way to the Bay of Islands 2012 championship on a grey and damp afternoon in Kerikeri Saturday.
Trailing 0-12 early on to Ohaeawai tries by Josh Woodman and Moses Chadfield and a Brendon Green conversion, Kerikeri replied with a try to Fred Tavita converted by Sam Boyd who also added a penalty before halftime. The homeside went 13-12 ahead shortly after the break through another Boyd penalty, then a Tavita try converted by Boyd saw the score going to 20-15 with 20 minutes remaining.
Ohaeawai were on the back foot by this stage and desperate to break out of their half, a winger set off on one ambitious romp up the sideline but left with nowhere to go tried to offload. The ball bounced forward and was happily swooped up just inside halfway by Langi Vea who - with referee Bru Rush applying advantage - was left with a clear run to the tryline. Boyd converted (the fullback later given his side's overall POTD award) to make it 27-15 before Hayden Smyth crossed the line in the final minute of the game to get the party started in the Bay town.
"I think our forwards took it to them," said Kerikeri coach Ryan Barker. His standouts in the final included lock Richard Wallace along with the front row of hooker Chris Tipene and props Matt Iorangi and Will Whiu; while 1st five Ace Barlow who had been stunning all season again proved influential in the pivotal midfield role in the biggest game of the year.
Many inside Kerikeri RFC were putting the title victory at the feet of Barker who had taken a struggling team of recent years for the past two seasons to a 3rd place finish in 2011 which proved to have been a hint of things to come.
"The goal at the start of the year was to win it." A confident call but not an arrogant one. After all, Kerikeri were only beaten once during the season, a loss at home in the first round to Ohaeawai. Barker emphasised the season triumph was purely a reflection on his players' commitment to a tough training programme which had begun in January.
"We had the same squad all year, and they played well all season. Gave it their all and I'm proud of them. This result was an execution of everything we trained for. A load of effort, hard work, Everything we did we worked hard for. The amount of fitness work we did in the gym ..."
Back at the final on Saturday and some commentators remarked afterwards that the 2011 champions hadn't really come out in the second half. Ohaeawai's AJ Johnson didn't argue with the assessment and recalled the same thing had happened earlier in the season in the loss to Moerewa. He also noted having one of his players sent to the sinbin shortly after half time allowed Kerikeri to establish a foothold.
"I was happy with the boys this season ... Just like to thank our supporters for following us this season." Johnson also noted it will be Ohaeawai's 125th anniversary next year and the senior team was expected to launch a strong challenge for the Bay title accordingly: "Hope all the boys stick it out for another year, I hear Pauly Maihi's decided not to hang up his boots," laughed the first five.
There was still plenty on for Bay rugby players if they wanted it, Johnson noted. As one half of the Bay reps coaching team, and among a faction who believed the domestic club rugby season had been cut short, he was curious to know if Mangonui will be keen on playing the remaining Harding Shield game while a rep clash was apparently being jacked up between the Bay and Hokianga in a couple of weeks' time. He was also interested to hear talk of having a North Zone club final played between Kerikeri and the Mangonui champions (whoever that may be in two weeks' time). Now, the Taiamai Ohaeawai Sports Club was preparing to host its annual Hone Heke challenge tournament in September.
Back in the Kerikeri Sports Complex on Saturday, the local supporters were all smiles including stalwart Chris Trapper Harper.
"I was impressed today. They [Kerikeri] played well in the forwards. We were a little bit worried at half time but to come back against Ohaeawai was unbelievable."
With the last championship won in 1996, Trapper said it was a long time between drinks for all Kerikeri supporters, and looking around a full clubhouse, he added, "Unbelievable crowd here today."
It was also a very vocal one, particularly from those who had not liked the new champions using outside players who had been made available and at the request of Northland Taniwha coach Adriaan Ferris (a good friend of Barker's). That included two Tongans who had made an immense contribution towards Kerikeri's resurrection as a major force in Bay rugby this year: No.8 Sione Onesi and No.7 Jack Ram (who also plays for the Tongan IRB Sevens side). Apparently commonplace in Whangarei club rugby, club supporters were able to offer the new imports jobs and help with accommodation; resources which other clubs possibly struggled to match and perhaps where the resentment stemmed.
Walking off the battlefield after the game, Kerikeri vice captain Matt Iorangi said he'd been bemused to hear some outspoken comments from the sideline during the last spell particularly when Kerikeri looked to have the game wrapped up.
"We had a lot of critics about our imports. But everyone lives here, works here" Iorangi responded diplomatically, adding Kerikeri had answered its critics in the best of all possible ways.
Bottom four
Okaihau 25 South Hokianga 22 (ht 10-0): The bottom four final a classic of two halves, with Okaihau leading by 25-5 at one stage in the second spell before the Natives mounted a late comeback. Ohaeawai player coach Shaun Haynes said he was surprised to see his side leading at half time in playing against a relatively strong wind.
"It was a good way to finish," said Haynes of the result concluding a frustrating season at times where the 2010 finalists frequently struggled for numbers. On behalf of the side he thanked the sponsors, supporters and as a bit of a veteran campaigner.
Tries by Kirwan Waiti 2, captain Toddy "Blackadder" Campbell, Scott Sturge (finishing off a big run from Ray Posthumus) and a conversion by Rangi Ranger; with the whole team getting POTD.
Natives manager Tom Rogers, meanwhile, praised his team for its efforts during the season. "Proud of them for the whole season. It was a cracker [of a game]. We played well, scored three tries in the second half, two were 100m tries goalpost to goalpost." Tries by Kyle Brown, Michael Crouch, Isaac Naera, Huata Mitchell, conv by John Filia.
Responding to those who thought the competition had ended prematurely, Rogers said as a dairy farmer he wasn't too worried, but admitted, "we did probably start too early". Haynes, the veteran campaigner, admitting he was still a bit tender on Monday, personally didn't feel the season was too short.
Results from the final round of the Mangonui senior club rugby competition feature inside on page 11.