Rugby: Te Puna win sour for Whaka

Whaka lost their first match at home on Saturday against Te Puna. They are pictured (left) playing against Tauranga Sports last week. Photo/George Novak

Whakarewarewa have lost their first match at home this season after letting a 24-point lead slip away.

Whaka were guilty of letting Te Puna back into the contest on Saturday after racing away to a 24-0 lead early in the first half.

Te Puna had not recorded a win all season heading into the round six encounter at Puarenga Park but battled back well to register their first victory 31-29.

In the dying minutes, Whaka had a chance to kick a penalty to win the match but elected to take a quick tap instead, about 35m out from the posts.

It resulted in a nail-bitting finish but Te Puna held on to win the match.

Te Puna halfback, and Bay of Plenty Steamer, Te Aihe Toma was instrumental in the victory and looked dangerous every time he touched the ball. He also kicked a perfect five from five to help his team edge out the win.

Meanwhile, Whaka made too many errors in the second half including a howler in the lead up to Te Puna's fourth try, when Whaka were leading 24-21.

Te Puna put a kick up which should have easily been taken. Whaka let the ball bounce and Te Puna's Jordan Tahere latched onto a good bounce before running 40m to score.

Whaka coach Ngarimu Simpkins said it was a disappointing loss.

"It is a hard pill to swallow especially after we played so well in the first half," he said. "We are obviously disappointed but we will re-build."

After winning their first five matches to start the season, Whaka have now lost two in a row.

"It is definitely not panic stations, we still have goals we want to achieve and there is a lot of belief in our systems and our camp," he said.

"We play top of the table Te Puke next week and we will be looking to put our best foot forward."

Whakarewarewa 29 (Akira Mako 2, Siegfried Fisi'ihoi, Te Rangi Fraser, Kimo Houltham tries; Te Rangi Fraser 2 con) lost to Te Puna 31 (Hamish Boyce, Dan Schuster, Te Aihe Toma, Jordan Tahere tries; Te Aihe Toma 4 con, pen).