Rugby: Last-gasp try saves Rotoiti in Baywide Premier clash with Tauranga Sports

Rotoiti showed resilience and character in their 17-all draw against a tough Tauranga Sports at Emery Park yesterday. In an exhilarating game, that saw each side kick four penalties a piece before two tries were scored in the last two minutes, Rotoiti showed plenty of dogged determination with a powerful forward pack that saved the day.

The home side's front rowers - Hikanui Curtis, Willie Royal and Etimani Sului were excellent in the scrum alongside Baden Wardlaw, Josh White and Abe Tito and more than matched Tauranga's changed front line of Jessie Williams, Alan McRobbie and Mike Gallagher.

At the breakdown Rotoiti's Albert Taiatini, Wardlaw and Tito were outstanding and pushed Tauranga captain and Steamers' player Beau Williams and his side all the way.

In a first half with few clear cut chances, Rotoiti took the lead through the boot of Whakataki Cunningham from close range after Tauranga were penalised for offside.

Tauranga were level just five minutes later after a Rotoiti high tackle offence gave Paul Morris a straight forward penalty on the 22m line.

Dropped ball and misplaced passes from both teams turned the next 20 minutes into a scrappy affair.

Zane Winslade's Tauranga managed to composure themselves and should have touched down but a forward pass in front of the try line let them down after 35 minutes.

The blue and red men took advantage and regained the lead, once again through Cunningham - just outside the 22m line, this time after a reverse penalty call.

Tauranga surged back and made it all square going into the break thanks to an impressive long-range penalty from Morris, who was gifted the opportunity after offside play from Rotoiti on the stroke of halftime.

Rotoiti's Te Ra Whata breaks away from a diving Tauranga Sports' tackle at Emery Park yesterday. PHOTO/BEN FRASER

After the break both teams were evenly matched and with 14 minutes to go Tauranga were ahead when Morris struck two successful penalties either side of Cunningham's trusty boot - who pulled it all level shortly after with a fourth successful kick.

The away side must have thought they had snatched victory when a strong line out from Tauranga set up winger Aaron Tait to touch down in the left corner with the clock ticking down.

But a missed conversion gave Rotoiti hope and, after winning the ball from the restart, the red and blue men powered towards Tauranga's try line with patient buildup play. They piled on the pressure and despite excellent last ditch defence from the away side, eventually the ball found its way to winger Loni Fisi'ihoi who crashed over from close range.

After the exuberant celebrations eventually died down from the home players, coaches and fans alike, Cunningham could have grabbed victory with the last kick of the game but pulled his conversion wide.

However, Rotoiti's captain Wardlaw treated the result like a win for his team.

"We are definitely happy coming up against a team [Tauranga] like that - they have always been a top side . . . top four contenders and always in the final," he said.

"I didn't know what would happen at the end . . . anything can happen in the game of rugby.

"The boys just showed character there and it just goes to show we are a team where the forwards are very dominant and that was the fact that saw us score that last try."

Tauranga's skipper Williams admitted disappointment with the draw but praised Rotoiti's "never-give-up attitude".

"You can never be happy with a draw but in saying that I was very proud of the boys' efforts today. It's always tough coming out here," he said. "I think we could have held on at the end but full credit to them - they ground it out and I thought they were outstanding in the last two minutes. They worked hard for it and they got it in the end.

"They [Rotoiti] go into another league at home, I don't think I've ever had an easy game here, I knew it was going to be tough."

Rotoiti will look to build on this impressive result and try to emulate their strong home performances on the road when they take on Whakatane Marist next.

"We want to look at is being a good travelling team. We are such a poor travelling team, I don't know what it is - hopefully we can change that this week. We'll see what happens," Wardlaw said.

Rotoiti 17 (Loni Fisi'ihoi tries; Whakataki Cunningham 4 pen) Tauranga Sports (Aaron Tait tries; Paul Morris pen)
HT: 6-6

Baywide Club rugby results
Saturday April 15

Baywide Premier results:

Rotoiti 17 Tauranga Sports 17

Arataki 21 Rangataua 16

Greerton Marist 55 Poroporo 6

Postponed:

Whakarewarewa v Whakatane Marist (moved to Easter Monday, Puarenga Park, kick-off 2.45pm).

Te Puna v Mount Maunganui (Tuesday April 18, kick-off 2.45pm)

Te Puke Sports v Paroa (To be confirmed)

Baywide Development results:

Arataki 31 Rangataua 10

Greerton Marist 39 Poroporo 7

Tauranga Sports 55 Rotoiti 27

Postponed:

Whakarewarewa v Whakatane Marist (Easter Monday)

Te Puna v Mount Maunganui (Tuesday, April 18)

Te Puke Sports v Paroa (To be confirmed)

Baywide Division 1 results:

Papamoa 14 Marist St Michael's 12

Ngongotaha 65 Waimana 5

Waikite 19 Judea 13

Rangiuru 27 Te Teko 25

Postponed:

Katikati v Ruatoki

Opotiki v Kahukura

*Results are subject to confirmation, after official team sheets have been processed on Tuesday.