Rotoiti created plenty of opportunities but the most telling fell into the hands of Tauranga Sports backline general Robert Moon.
And the just-turned 30-year-old knew exactly what to do when he snaffled a Rotoiti loose pass inside his own 22. He pinned his ears back and headed to
the corner flag in the distance during Saturday's Baywide match at Rotoiti.
Ten years ago, hell, maybe even just five or two, the 70-plus metres would have been a walk at Emery Park for the former Bay of Plenty representative No 10 but he's now in the twilight of his career.
One of his clubmates was heard to remark "it looked like you were running in gumboots," following their 35-33 win which left Moon, playing his final club season, absolutely stuffed.
"I had nothing for the last 15 minutes, I was cramping, I knew I should have taken that kick [he missed]," Moon offered between heavy breaths.
The final result was a huge reversal from 12 months ago when Sports were flogged 71-5 by the lakesiders during a horror season.
"Not many teams come away with a win here," a satisfied Moon said following the topsy-turvy match which could have gone either way.
However, the homeside didn't deserve the win points, they made life tough for themselves with laboured passing and terrible kicking options and execution.
They were kept in the game courtesy of the boot of their captain and hooker Joe Marsters who contributed 25 points to their total and a robust forward effort.
Tauranga were expert at taking their chances, running in five tries, all to their speedy backs, and soaking up the Rotoiti thrusts with good defensive work.
The visitors led 15-13 at halftime, scoring the opening try when Rotoiti's Vesi Rauluni's chip-and-regather attempt went astray and Thomas Cole scored at the other end.
That score set the scene for much of the match with Rotoiti holding possession but being harassed into more mistakes. A turnover and missed tackle leading to Caylum Merrick's scoring the second for Tauranga before Joe Gotz crossed for Rotoiti on the break.
Marsters pushed his side into the lead with a 28m penalty just after the re-start and Rotoiti looked to be moving away as Gotz made an angled run from halfway with substitute winger Wayne Walden outside him.
The No 8 drew the last line of defence and went to pass outside to an unmarked Walden. But he had gone inside and Gotz was dragged down a metre from the tryline.
Rotoiti won the ensuing ruck but many of the backs were doing the job of forwards and the forwards were standing in the backline.
It was a recipe for disaster and Moon took advantage of the situation. He pounced on the first lifted pass and outpaced the cover to score. Moon missed the conversion but he made amends with a penalty before a helter-skelter last 10 minutes saw both sides score twice each and Merrick boot a near 40m penalty for Tauranga.
Meanwhile, Whakarewarewa ruined the bon voyage party for Te Teko stalwart Keith Pryor at Dunderdale Park.
The 66-game Bay of Plenty representative leaves for Australia this week and looked to be going out on a winning note when his side led the Rotorua-based red and blacks 16-5 at the break.
However, Whakarewarewa gained control of the match following the restart with centre Cory Aporo bagging a double as they finished with a flourish for the 32-23 win which denied Te Teko the bonus point.
Te Puna continued their good start to the year with an efficient 35-21 win against Kahukura at Kuirau Park in Rotorua.
The visitors crossed for four tries with Daniel Schuster scoring twice while Ray McDonald's accurate boot contributed 15 points to ensure their second win.
RESULTS
Section One:
Te Puke Sports 24 (Mike Ryan, Mark Sorrenson, Solomon King tries, Murray Williams 3 pens) Mt Maunganui 23 (Jason Langdon, John Paraenga, Lance McDonald tries, Mike Delany 2 pens, con)
Whakarewarewa 32 ((Garrick Cowley, Robert MacKenzie, Eroni Seibouma, Cory Aporo 2 tries; Eru Haimona 1pen, 1con, Josh Rauluni 1con) Te Teko 23 (Keith Pryor, Scott Collier tries; Junior Stowe 2pen, 2con, 1dg)
Rangataua 36 Sam Christie (2) Buzz Ririnui, Nathan Olsen, Doug Joesph tries; Christie 4 cons, pen) Rangiuru 27 (Paul Latimer, Simon Rolleston 2 tries; Rolleston 2 pens, 4 cons)
Kawerau 18 (Mac Elliot, Daryll Leef tries; Phil Tangira 2 pen, con) Whakatane Marist 11 (Wayne Araroa try; Leighton Thrupp, David Bowater pens)
Tauranga Sports 35 (Robert Moon, Thomas Cole, Steve McCashin, Caylum Merrick, Matt Hodgson tries; Moon 2con, 1pen) Rotoiti 33 (Joe Marsters 2, Vesi Rauluni tries; Marsters 3pen, 3con).
Te Puna 35 (Daniel Schuster 2, John Brown, Tapene Mika tries; Ray McDonald 3 pen, 3con) Kahukura 21 (Mike Drabble, Jonathan Ernst, Paul Holmes tries; James Tuapawa 2pen) HT 19-11.
Section Two:
Judea 55 Edgecume 10, Matata 18 Ngongotaha 12, Arataki 51 Waikite 3, Marist St Michaels 23 Poroporo 15, Papamoa 12 Opotiki 10, Greerton Marist 41 Painoaiho 0
Colts
Section One: Te Puke Sports 37 Ngongotaha 0, Tauranga Sports 19 Rotoiti 7, Te Puna 47 Kahukura 17, Waikite 19 Greerton Marist 5, Rangataua 22 Reporoa 7
Section Two:
Whaka 32 Te Teko 24, Whakatane Marist 41 Kawerau 0, Mt Maunganui 12 Taupo 7
Rotoiti foiled by a running Moon
Rotoiti created plenty of opportunities but the most telling fell into the hands of Tauranga Sports backline general Robert Moon.
And the just-turned 30-year-old knew exactly what to do when he snaffled a Rotoiti loose pass inside his own 22. He pinned his ears back and headed to
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