Rugby: Rotorua Maroon show grit to take third place

Rotorua Maroon lifted the Gavin Parkinson Trophy for third place and the Shepherd Trophy for sportsmanship as the Tai Mitchell tournament drew to a close yesterday.

Tauranga West held off a committed Te Puke outfit to lift the Tai Mitchell Shield aloft at Blake Park, Mt Maunganui.

West were deserved 25-17 winners, scoring four tries to three to win the iconic tournament for the seventh time in the last 12 years.

The win was built largely on the fundamentals of the game - namely strong forward play and intelligent kicking to the corners.

The Tauranga West pack thumped away earlier and often, rarely straying more than one off the ruck, which paid dividends in the form of tries to loose forward Neitana Tapiata-Smith, flying winger Jack Broadley-Ryan and nippy halfback Louis Grinrod in the opening half.

Kees Pohatu added another unconverted try after the break to make it 20-7, before Te Puke fought back to bring the final to life.

Tries to forwards Tiawhitawa Tamihana and Te Kurairiwhare Biel-Mair - one of which came virtually on full time - narrowed the gap, but in the end West were worth their five-tries-to-three margin.

Earlier, Rotorua Maroon proved too strong for Tauranga East, riding home a strong start and 19-5 lead at the break to prevail 24-17.

The Maroons were awarded both the Gavin Parkinson Trophy and the Shepherd Trophy, and probably would have fancied their chances had they made the final.

East pushed the Rotorua side all the way with an inspired second-half comeback that fell just short.

They were ably led by Jim McKinnon trophy winner Taituha Woller, who scored a try and threw himself into everything in an impressive performance that earned him player of the tournament honours.

Opotiki confirmed they would not have looked out of place in the semifinals with a 24-12 win over Whakatane to claim the Bill Murray Trophy, and Rotorua Gold beat Rangitaiki for seventh place, 21-17.

Galatea won the playoff for the ninth place, 36-17, against Apanui.