Winger William Warbrick scores a try for Te Waiariki against Te Raki Paewhenua (North Harbour) in Te Hiku o te Ika; Northern Region Maori Rugby final. Photo/Stephen Parker
Winger William Warbrick scores a try for Te Waiariki against Te Raki Paewhenua (North Harbour) in Te Hiku o te Ika; Northern Region Maori Rugby final. Photo/Stephen Parker
Attacking flair was the key ingredient as Te Waiariki overcame a slow start to beat Te Raki Paewhenua (North Harbour) 42-15 in Te Hiku o te Ika; Northern Region Maori Rugby Tournament senior men's final on Saturday.
The senior and age-group finals were held at Rotorua International Stadium and having won their round-robin games 100-0 and 78-0, Te Waiariki were the heavy favourites going into the final.
However, Te Raki Paewhenua caught their opponents napping and took the lead in the first minute after Te Waiariki failed to clear the ball effectively from the kickoff. The North Harbour side charged into the 22 and shifted the ball left, where their winger grubbered the ball into the in-goal and dived on it to give his side a 5-0 lead.
Te Waiariki's Te Aihe Toma. Photo/Stephen Parker
Having caught Te Waiariki off-guard, Te Raki Paewhenua dominated territory and possession for the opening 20 minutes of the match but failed to extend their lead.
Finally Te Waiariki managed to get upfield and play with some continuity. They got on the scoreboard after shifting the ball left, where second five John Ririnui sucked in defenders and offloaded to put winger Curtis Deane over in the corner. Kelly Haimona converted the try and Te Waiariki led 7-5.
Te Raki Paewhenua hit back with a second try before Te Waiariki really hit their straps and started picking holes in their opposition's defence.
Te Waiariki lock Derone Campbell makes a break against Te Raki Paewhenua. Photo/Stephen Parker
First it was winger William Warbrick who received the ball out wide, near halfway, stepped his marker to cut infield and blitzed his way past several defenders to score under the posts. Moments later halfback Te Aihe Tama showed he had as much attacking prowess as his winger, hitting a gap near halfway and racing away to score under the posts.
The Bay of Plenty side extended their lead five minutes into the second half through Mike Bidois. They had worked their way into the opposition 22 when first five Whakataki Cunningham showed great vision in throwing a massive cutout pass to put Bidois over for a try in the right-hand corner. The try was converted and Te Waiariki led 28-12.
Ten minutes into the second half Te Waiariki were on a roll, producing the kind of free-flowing rugby that had seen them dominate the tournament. Cunningham was again the chief creator as they added a fifth try. He beat his man with a wicked sidestep and charged into the 22 before throwing an offload which Teena Black, who was in support, did brilliantly to latch on to and score under the posts.
Te Waiariki scored a sixth try through Baden Wardlaw, with another display of scintillating attack which started inside their own half, and Haimona kept up his flawless goal kicking to make the score 42-10.
Te Raki Paewhenua scored a try on fulltime to reduce the deficit to 42-15, but Te Waiariki were the deserved winners.
Te Waiariki coach Murray Sturt said his team "came through in the end" after a slow start.
"We put the points on and I couldn't be more pleased. It shows the character of the boys, to have a go, it was really good - I take my hat off to one to 23.
"In the first half we were probably a bit lackadaisical in the forwards, but in the second half we showed a bit of grit and a bit of fight and got into it," Sturt said.
He said it was good for the team to be tested after a couple of easier wins.
"When they scored that first try, you know we're not used to getting tries scored against us. The boys had to step up and fight and get it. There are a lot of leaders out there.
"We can't take anything away from North Harbour, they've travelled down here and they showed some grit in the first half. Credit to them, thanks for coming down.
"I think [the tournament] has put Maori rugby back on the map," he said.
Te Hiku o te Ika; Northern Region Maori Rugby tournament finals Senior men: Final - Te Raki Paewhenua 15 v Te Waiariki 42
Under-19 women: Final - Tainui Waka (Waikato) 37 v Te Tai Tokerau (Northland) 24 3rd/4th playoff - Tamaki Makaura (Auckland) 5 v Te Waiariki (Bay of Plenty) 120
Under-19 men: Final - Te Tai Tokerau 32 v Tamaki Makaurau 38 3rd/4th playoff -Te Waiariki beat Tainui Waka by default
Under-17: Final - Te Raki Paewhenua 34 v Tamaki Makaurau 13 3rd/4th playoff - Te Tai Tokerau 62 v Te Waiariki 0 5th/6th playoff - Te Atiawa (Taranaki) 21 v Tainui Waka 22
Under-15: Final - Tainui Waka 16 v Tamaki Makaurau 28 3rd/4th playoff - Counties Manukau Black 24 v Te Waiariki 26
