Pikiao Warriors continue to look the team to beat with a 35-24 win over their arch-rivals Ngongotaha in the Bay of Plenty district league competition.
Despite the 11 point victory to Pikiao it was anything but a one-sided affair, with the lead changing several times throughout the match.
As expected, a match between Pikiao and Ngongotaha is always a tough battle of attrition. Pikiao were first to open the scoring in the fifth minute of the match. With Pikiao camped on Ngongotaha's line, BJ Raroa fired a bullet like skip-pass out to right winger Stonie Bartle who dived over in the corner for the first of his two tries. Rhys Hohepa was unable to convert the try.
However, Ngongotaha were able to take the lead 10 minutes later when centre Tanetiki Takiura scored a relatively soft try which was converted by Scotty Thompson. The halfback had a good day with the boot converting all four of Ngongotaha's tries.
Both sides looked to use their forwards to bash the line to create space but were equally guilty of giving away soft turnovers during their own sets.
The lead swung back to Pikiao, when Bartle used some individual brilliance to chip through the Ngongotaha defence, regather and score his second but the boys in blue retook the lead a few minutes later when big Tai Pelesasa barged over for his sides second try. Pelesasa was at his devastating best both on defence and attack. He was backed up by his team mate Morgan King and returning from injury hooker Raureti Grace.
Ngongotaha extended their lead in the 37th minute when Esera Filipo touched down to give his side an 18-8 lead going into the halftime break.
The lead was taken out to 24-8 in the 47th minute when Filipo scored his second try.
But in the end it was Pikiao's senior players like Te Kaiaotea "Bully" Tahuriorangi, BJ Raroa, James Ryan and even Jason Kameta who were the deciding factor.
The side lifted through hard running from the Pikiao forward pack lead by Ryan and Kameta.
This started to open holes in Ngongotaha's defence which the halves of Bully and Raroa took advantage of.
Ryan was the first to be rewarded by the elusive little runs of Bully and Raroa. He latched on to a beautiful offload from Raroa to score near the post which was converted by Connor Hohepa.
Bully's nephew, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, was the next to score thanks to a line break from his uncle. Then Bully bamboozled Ngongotaha with his jinking little runs to score himself a try.
All of this within a space of 10 minutes to give Pikiao the lead which they wouldn't give up.
In fact, the side suddenly became clinical, scoring another try to Percy King after Bully looked to chip behind the defence - the ball ricochet of the post and into the hands of King.
The last quarter was all Pikiao with the side kicking a penalty to Connor Hohepa and a drop goal to Bully.
Although Pikiao coach Doug Unuwai was at the match at Puketawhero Park at the weekend it was more of an observatory role rather than hands on.
Unuwai who last week had spent time at Waikato Hospital because of a heart condition said it was good to see the team able to continue to function well despite not having their coach available for the last several days.
Although Ngongotaha coach Dominic James would have to be disappointed with the side's loss, the encouraging thing for his team is their ability to push teams to their limit despite being riddled with injuries. It has gotten to the stage that even the coach had to lace up his boots and play.
In the other matches in the competition Pacific beat Taupo 36-22, while in the reserve grade Mangakino beat Central 46-36, Tauhara lost to Pacific 16-58, Turangi were too strong for Reporoa 42-28 and Putaruru won by default over Taupo.
Scorers:
Pikiao 35 (S Bartle 2, J Ryan, T Tahuriorangi, Bully Tahuriorangi, P King tries; C Hohepa 4 cons, 1 pen, Bully Tahuriorangi 1 goal) Ngongotaha 24 (T Takiura, T Pelesasa, E Filipo 2 tries; S Thompson 4 cons)
Halftime: 18-8