Whakarewarewa won a tight clash over Rotoiti on Saturday. Pictured is Whaka captain Doug Edwards (right) celebrating a decision. Photo / Ben Fraser
Whakarewarewa won a tight clash over Rotoiti on Saturday. Pictured is Whaka captain Doug Edwards (right) celebrating a decision. Photo / Ben Fraser
Whakarewarewa captain Doug Edwards brought up his 100th game for the club in style after helping his side defeat rivals Rotoiti 27-20.
The win clearly meant a lot to Whaka on Saturday, who kept their playoff hopes alive and also won back the Tai Mitchell Shield.
The race for aspot in the top four of the Baywide premier rugby competition was blown wide open following the result at Emery Park.
Tauranga Sports and Te Puke are runaway leaders in the competition but Rotoiti, Whaka and Mount Maunganui are now in a tight race for the other two playoff spots.
Edwards said it was a very satisfying victory on Saturday, beating fellow Rotorua heavyweights Rotoiti.
"It's one of the best wins I've been a part of in this team. It was 100 games for me today so I'll remember this game for a long time, for a number of reasons," Edwards said. "I felt like we were the underdogs today but we knew we had it within ourselves to pull this one out."
Edwards said, going into the game, he was just as nervous as when he debuted for Whaka five years ago. "I was just as nervous as my bloody debut today, just because there was so much at cost."
Image 1 of 9: Whakarewarewa v Rotoiti baywide premier match at Emery Park Photo/Ben Fraser
With rain pelting the field before the match both teams turned on a very entertaining match, in what were awful conditions. The sides tested each other's handling skills early on - putting plenty of kicks high into the air.
The first try came when a Rotoiti player knocked on trying to receive a kick. Whaka jumped on the mistake and put boot to ball. The ball sprayed out to Whaka's try scoring sensation, Te Rangi Fraser, who kicked it one more time before diving to score.
Whaka pushed out to an 18-0 lead with a further try to Edwards and two penalties to Ryubyn Vaipo.
The home side battled back well towards the end of the half with a flurry of points. Joe Royal finished off a good play down the left edge, scoring Rotoiti's first try, and classy kicker Willie Ripia added two penalties.
Rotoiti took the lead early in the second half after winger Chanse Perham found his way over the line. With the wind at their backs, and Whaka making mistakes, Rotoiti almost pushed on to a good lead.
But they were pinged for a double movement on two occasions close to the try line.
As the game entered the last quarter, Whaka first five Vaipo showed his class kicking with three penalties, all into the wind.
There are only three rounds left in the premier rugby competition before the playoffs.
