Te Arawa forward Pomare Pirini (centre) in action against He Waka Eke Noa. Photo / Andrew Warner
Te Arawa have fallen one game short of taking the Waka division of the Maori National Rugby League Tournament.
They lost to Ngati Umutahi 14-6 in a hard-fought battle at Puketawhero Park yesterday.
In front of more than 3000 spectators the two sides smashed and crashed their way through 60
minutes of hard rugby.
Umutahi have been absent from the tournament for about a decade but were on fire right from the start using their giant props Hammond and Charles Matua as battering rams on the Te Arawa defence. At more than 120kgs the two props would hit-up a piece from the kick off then be subbed until Umutahi needed them to bring the ball out of their own quarter.
Te Arawa were guilty of giving away possession early in their tackle count and struggled to get back-to-back sets.
