Reaction from the Whaka v Waikite match last weekend.
PRIDE and prestige were at stake for Waikite and Whakarewarewa as they went head-to head in both sides' opening game of the newly formated division on Saturday.
But it was Whakarewarewa who took the honours with a comprehensive 55-0 away win at Bellevue Road-sending out a dominant message to the rest of the teams in the division and keeping hold of the locally contested Tai Mitchell Shield.
The scoreline rather flattered the visitors as they were made to work hard for the victory, coming up against an impressive Waikite forward line. However, their quality with the final ball and Waikite's inexperience at this level was the difference, as they slid over for a total of eight tries.
"It was always going to be a very hard game for us and going down to 14 men a couple of times is a discipline issue we will look at for future games," said Waikite coach Carl Marsters.
Whakarewarewa player Shaquille Stone sprinted away for his side's second try of the game.
PHOTO/STEPHEN PARKER
"We were in the game though and made Whaka work hard, but in the second half our lack of experience playing premier level sides like Whaka showed. "It's a time for us to realise the standard and see where we need to be."
Waikite vice-captain Courtney Marsters added: "We just needed that extra pass and extra support and giving those offloads quickly."
"We need to be on the grind for the whole game. We can take a lot of pride from the game and need to take the loss on the chin and come back firing next week."
Whakarewarewa were desperate for a dominant display after the side disappointedly missed out on a top eight place last weekend, while Waikite were looking to prove that they could compete with the calibre of a Premier 1 side.
And after an even start to the match, impressive back Te Rangi Fraser took hold of the game for the visitors-beating three defenders and sprinting over on the right side off the back of a powerful Whakarewarewa scrum after 13 minutes, with accurate kicker Ryubyn Vaipo converting.
Vaipo then extended the lead to 10-0 after 20 minutes with a penalty kick.
Waikite had an opportunity to come back in the game four minutes later as they broke down the left, however they lacked the quality with the final ball on the try line. Back Shaquille Stone intercepted the pass and sprinted the length of the pitch, taking the score to 15-0 after a missed conversion.
After another phase of unsuccessful Waikite pressure, Fraser once again popped up for Whakarewarewa as he joined a fast attacking break and offloaded to the left winger Masiu Vainikolo who crashed over, taking his side into halftime 22-0 after another Vaipo conversion.
Te Rangi Fraser impressed for Whakarewarewa in his team's victory over local rivals Waikite in the opening game of the Premier 2 competition. PHOTO/STEPHEN PARKER
Waikite started the stronger of the sides after the restart, however any hope for the home side was lost when Devo Babai was sin-binned six minutes into the second half for a dangerous tackle in the air.
Whakarewarewa took advantage and scored their fourth try when Vainikolo broke once again down the left after being released by Fraser in the 53rd minute with a conversion.
And immediately from the kick Whakarewarewa's forward Joe Savage broke through with impressive strength. The ball made its way to Vainikolo and he offloaded to powerful prop Jone Lesi who crashed over, extending the visitors' lead to 36-0 after conversion.
Whakarewarewa were still hungry for more and five minutes later they scored their sixth try when inside centre Maake Taulahi darted down the right and slid over in the corner.
Waikite's frustration finally reached boiling point with Babai red-carded with 10 minutes to go for obstruction. The visitors once again capitalised, Trent Sweeney bulldozing over with Vaipo's fifth conversion.
And Whakarewarewa put the nail in the coffin in the last phases of the match when halfback Chris Van der Vlugt broke down the left inside his own half and sprinted under the posts with Vaipo cheekily converting with his weaker left foot.
"We needed a good win after last week and to set a good example to the rest of the teams in this division. It was pretty disappointing and the boys and the club have taken it very hard," said Whakarewarewa coach Kopae Irihei.
"It was a big local club derby. We haven't played each other in a while and the shield was at stake with prestige and mana. "We knew that if we kept our structure and pace of our game sooner or later we were hoping they wouldn't stay with us."
"It took a long time. I give Waikite credit. They hung in there for long periods of time."
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