Kahukura's Tim Vant Leven takes the ball up against some stiff Waikite defence on Saturday in the derby match. Kahukura won a 'confrontational' final 29-17 at Bellvue Rd. Photo/Ben Fraser
Kahukura's Tim Vant Leven takes the ball up against some stiff Waikite defence on Saturday in the derby match. Kahukura won a 'confrontational' final 29-17 at Bellvue Rd. Photo/Ben Fraser
Kahukura outmuscled Waikite 29-17 in a fierce Rotorua derby match a week out from the Baywide Division One competition.
The victory means more than just bragging rights for Kahukura, who collect their first piece of silverware this season.
The win on Saturday also gives the proud rugby club plenty ofimpetus going into the shortened Baywide competition next week.
"It will give us some confidence going into the Baywide comp ... we are looking to make the top four again this year," player/coach Charles Hubbard said.
Rotoruas Baywide Division One clubs - Kahukura, Waikite, Marist St Michaels and Ngongotaha - have been battling out the local senior competition for the past few months.
Hubbard said his side played good aggressive rugby to defeat Waikite.
NICE TRY: Kahukura celebrate their third try against Waikite. 180514BF17
Kahukura were first to strike at Bellvue Rd following a storming run from first-five Hubbard who made an angled run towards the tryline and broke three tackles on his way to scoring in the corner.
The former Bay of Plenty Steamer also kept Kahukura out of trouble many times with his long-range kicks.
Waikite struck back with a nice try to Tony Lawrence, who ran a good line to score under the posts.
While Waikite played the better running rugby in the first half, Kahukura took a 14-10 lead into half time following three successful penalties.
Kahukura then played their best rugby during the first 25 minutes of the second half.
Shaun Kingi-Murray finished off a nice team try down the left edge before speedster Jayden Savage set up classy fullback Michael Misky on the right, to score his teams third try.
The big gap on the scoreboard proved too much for Waikite to claw back. The home side rallied well in the last 15 minutes but could only manage one try through Rewiata George.
Kahukura also displayed some great defence in the last quarter of an hour to close out the match.
Hubbard said one of their players had to miss the game on Saturday because a family member had died, so it was nice to be able to win with him in mind.
"These are always confrontational matches," Hubbard said. "We don't expect anything less from Waikite."
If a Rotorua club wins the Baywide Division One competition this year, it would see three Rotorua clubs compete in the premier grade for 2015.
Central Bay of Plenty Local Senior Competition final: Kahukura 29 (Charles Hubbard, Shaun Kingi-Murray, Michael Misky tries; Logan Norman con, 4 pen) Waikite 17 (Tony Lawrence, Rewiata George tries; Sam Phillips 2 con, pen)
