League: Pikiao come out on top as ref loses control

Pikiao continue to cement their place as the team to beat in the premier league competition with a 26-12 win over arch-rivals Ngongotaha at Puketawhero Park at the weekend.

A clash between the two Rotorua sides is always a tough affair and the small but vocal crowd who weathered the wet and cold conditions weren't disappointed.

Both sides smashed into one another, looking to batter their opponents into submission. Ngongotaha appeared to be the more structured side in the first 40 minutes with both Joe Nuku, Apirana Te Kiri and Tai Pelesasa making strong inroads into the Pikiao defensive lines.

The trio's hard and direct running started to suck Pikiao's defensive line in and although the boys in black weathered the onslaught. But the time they had the ball they would often be bunched and have no real depth to attack from.

With both sides bashing into each other and bodies starting to wear it was only a matter of time before one side cracked and in the 20th minute it was Pikiao.

Ngongotaha were hard on attack inside Pikiao's 20 when they spun the ball wide, with Pikiao's left flank stretched, all it took was for lock forward Canaan Tuhura to cut back in on the angle to expose the hole and eventually run under the post almost untouched. His try was converted by Whetu Matenga.

It took Pikiao another 15 minutes before they would strike back when BJ Raroa ran through a gap 10m inside his own half. The dummy half showed his pace, pulling away from the Ngongotaha chasers to go under the post to give fullback Rhys Hohepa and easy conversion.

The two sides were like heavyweight boxers, slugging it out in a ring waiting for the other to fall to the canvas. It was Ngongotaha whose knees started to buckle thanks to a well directed kick by Pirikawana Taiatini. He found a flying Connor Hohepa who caught the ball and dived into the right corner scoring his sides second converted try just before halftime.

Pikiao coach Doug Unuwai told his side at halftime they needed to get back to their game plan.

"When I went on at halftime, I said to the boys, 'we are playing their game. We are trying to out muscle them and with our size and our strength, let's be smart about it and utilise the ball'."

The talk paid off because straight after the break, Pikiao had their third try, two minutes into the second spell, when Te Kaiaotea Tahuriorangi wrong footed the defence and ran 15m to score under the posts.

Although both sides continued to play a hard style, about 20 minutes into the second half, the game began to lose its structure with the ref having to rely on a volunteer touch judge, who had no idea what he was doing. Some bad decisions were made and both sides became frustrated and started to take it out on one another.

The niggle even spread to the sideline with spectators shouting abuse at the referee. It got to a point the ref had to halt the game and ask officials to remove a spectator. But by this time the ref had pretty much lost control of the match.

Although both sides scored a try a piece, Ngongotaha in the 70th minute and Pikiao in the 80th and Rhys Hohepa kicking a penalty. The match sort of petered out and it was almost a relief when the final whistle blew for fulltime.

Although Ngongotaha coach Dominic James said, "We didn't come a way with the two points but I'm really proud of the boys' effort. "

Scorers: Pikiao 26 (BJ Raroa, C Hohepa, T Tahuriorangi, R Pearce tries; R Hohepa 5 gls) Ngongotaha 12 (C Tuhura, M Tahana tries; W Matenga 2 gls). Halftime: 12-6.