Whakarewarewa flanker Sioeli Alofi stops another run by Tauranga Sports midfielder Charlie Lawrence. Photo/Andrew Warner
Whakarewarewa flanker Sioeli Alofi stops another run by Tauranga Sports midfielder Charlie Lawrence. Photo/Andrew Warner
Tauranga Sports made quite a statement of intent in their 33-16 defeat of Whakarewarewa at Tauranga Domain yesterday.
In scoring four tries to one Tauranga showed plenty of flair with their new backline combining well behind a seriously good forward pack that dominated for 80 minutes.
New faces in the key 8, 9, and 10 jerseys showed plenty of leadership and talent to burn that should bode well come championship semifinals time .
But for all the youthful exuberance of No 8 Ajay Mua, halfback Hayden Tyrell and first-five Kaleb Trask, the tight five was where this game was won.
Front rowers Jessie Williams, Alan McRobbie and Paula Hopoi with the Steamers engine room of Keepa Mewett and Beau Williams were outstanding in a scrum that gave Whakarewarewa no joy all game.
After a 50m penalty from Ryuben Vaipo to open the scoring Tauranga settled into their work.
Whakarewarewa mascot Piererangi Rika, 5, watches Ryubyu Vaipo take the kick. Photo/Andrew Warner
Quick thinking from Mua set up hardworking flanker Matt Ensor for a try in the corner converted with some style by Trask.
A penalty each saw Tauranga ahead 10-6 before the try of the match for Tauranga from a set piece with some slick passing and sharp insertion from fullback Steve Honey gave rampant bulldozer Paula Narawa a try in the corner.
Whakarewarewa scored early in the second half from an intercept try to their outstanding openside flanker Sioeli Alofi to temporarily fire up a strangely deflated Whakarewarewa unit.
But two tries in two minutes to flanker Dan Crowther and replacement prop Tevita Mafileo made the game safe for Tauranga Sports who spent the last 20 minutes camped in their opponent's half.
Whakarewarewa's head coach Joe Savage was struggling to find a reason for his team's lacklustre performance in a game they usually fire up for.
"We prepared pretty well during the week but going into the warm-up we seemed a little bit flat. I think it must have been the van ride but the game just didn't go our way," Edwards said.
"We normally get up to play [Tauranga] here and it is one of the things I am puzzled about. We definitely got up against Mount Maunganui last weekend and we were very much looking forward to the game this weekend."
Tauranga Sports coach Zane Winslade said getting his forward pack primed for Whakarewarewa was the focus during the week.
"I just think they did really well around the park, all eight of them just working really hard on defence and that is the thing I was most pleased with," he said.
Winslade knows he has a couple of special players at 8 and 10 who continue to impress after making New Zealand secondary school teams last year.
"They are developing well. Ajay is a quality player and Kaleb too and they are both stepping up. In those positions you need to lead and as young guys they are able to do that in our team.
"It is awesome to have young guys that can come straight out of First XV rugby into leading club rugby which is pretty beneficial for us."
In other results Mount Maunganui Sports beat Rotoiti 37-17 at Blake Park, Te Puna Sports caused a boilover at Greerton Park as they rushed out to a scarcely believable 53-0 lead at halftime against Greerton Marist before winning 58-0.
Unbeaten Rangataua Sports were knocked over 27-20 in the Eastern Bay by Paroa, Te Puke Sports beat Whakatane Marist 43-7 at home and Arataki beat Poroporo 58-31 at Grenada Park.
Meanwhile, in the Baywide Division 1 Ngongotaha came out on top in the local derby - beating Marist St Michael's 27-7 away at Marist Park.
Elsewhere Kahukura recorded a narrow 34 -32 win over Rangiuru at Kuirau Park while Waikite's match against Waimana was postponed.
Tauranga Sports 39 v Whakarewarewa 34 Mount Maunganui Sports 43 v Rotoiti 7 Rangataua 48 v Paroa 38 Greerton Marist 12 v Te Puna 7 Arataki 29 v Poroporo 22 Whakatane Marist v Te Puke Sports (not supplied)
Baywide Division 1 results:
Ngongotaha 27 v Marist St Michael's 7 Kahukura 34 v Rangiuru 32 Te Teko 48 v Papamoa 24 Opotiki 31 v Ruatoki 24 Waimana v Waikite - postponed
