On Matariki weekend, the Ōhaupō Waikato Club Rugby senior sides faced Putāruru under the watchful eye of spectator and Sky Sport commentator Honey Hireme-Smiler at Ōhaupō Memorial Park.
Ōhaupō B took on Putāruru B in the first match and the visiting side were up24-0 at the break.
Despite a valiant effort, Ōhaupō B fell to their south Waikato counterparts with a final score of 46-7.
The lone try for Ōhaupō B was scored by prop Stephen Rogers, with the conversion successfully made by first five-eighth Sebastian George.
The standout player of the match for the home team was openside flanker Darryn Colville.
Kennedy added a second try to his tally, dotting down in the left corner in the final play of the match.
Ōhaupō winger Caleb Kennedy dots down for his second score against Putāruru. Photo / Jesse Wood
Ōhaupō's victory was a team effort, achieved with very minimal reserves.
The home side’s player of the match award was shared by the tight five of Ethan Refoy, Jade Walker, Liam Palaone, Alex Fullerton and Chris Ferguson, who all put in a big 80-minute shift.
“It was awesome to get the job done against the reigning champs. We knew the type of game Putāruru would bring to the table and we were able to counter it with our brand of footy,” Ōhaupō assistant coach Connor Larsen-Cross said.
“We have been talking for the past few weeks about putting on an 80-minute performance and we definitely achieved that on Friday. In that, there is confidence we can take into this week’s game.”
This Saturday the Ōhaupō teams travel into Hamilton to face Suburbs at Flagstaff Park – possibly against a senior A backline containing Waikato and Hurricanes flyer Daniel Sinkinson.
Jesse Wood is a multimedia journalist based in Te Awamutu. He joined the Te Awamutu Courier and NZME in 2020.
