Cross Country Rentals Eketahuna made it hard for themselves in their 15-13 win over Oriental-Rongotai in a Wellington premier division women's rugby match at Eketahuna on Saturday.
Going into the last 15 minutes of the match Eketahuna were up 15-0 after scoring three uncoverted tries.
But a rash of penalties,many of them for backchatting the referee, allowed Oriental-Rongotai the territory and possession to score a couple of late tries and close the winning margin to just two points.
"We let ourselves down. Even if you don't agree with the decision there is absolutely no point in talking back to the referee," Eketahuna coach Sid Tatana said. "You have to adjust to the way they are controlling things whether you like it or not, after all you are never going to change their minds."
Tatana was pleased with the way the Eketahuna forwards fronted up to a physical Oriental Rongotai pack with Raylene Reiri being named player of the match for her high workrate and Katelyn Donaldson also impressing.
In the backs Rebecca Mahoney generally chose her options well at first-five and Shakira Baker was her usual aggressive self in midfield. She was given a spell in the sin bin and immediately on returning to the action burst through several tackles for a try.
Ruamahanga Colts gave the strong Massey White side plenty to think about in their Manawatu colts competition match on Saturday, Massey White winning 22-19. Andre Olsson, Justin Fricker and Sean Robinson scored the Ruamahanga tries and Sean Robinson kicked two conversions. Ruamahanga had enough territory and possession to win the match but a lapse in discipline proved costly. Player of the match for Ruamahanga was Joe Dahlberg-Paku.
Wairarapa College have made an outstanding start to their participation in the Manawatu under-15 secondary schoolboys A grade rugby competition. Four matches have produced wins over Palmerston North Boys High Under-14 Specials (38-8), Horowhenua College (29-26), PNBHS Hurricanes (23-0) and Feilding High (18-5).
