WAIAPU ARE BACK

(Above: Victorious return: Waiapu first-five Wayne Kahaki (ball carrier) sending the ball through the back-line. Waiapu made a triumphant return to competition securing their in first game, a win for the season against Ruatoria. Picture by Corey Reedy  – RUGBY by Ben O’Brien-Leaf – Published May 19, 2022 1:31PM )

A great club’s rugby dream came true on Saturday.

Restored to the Enterprise Cars Ngati Porou East Coast fold after a year off, Pango Productions Waiapu beat Ruatoria City 25-19 at George Nepia Memorial Park in Rangitukia.

In front of 180 fans, Waiapu captain and hooker Grayson Mauheni led his team from 13-7 up at halftime to victory, by four tries to three.

Outstanding forward Jorian Tangaere — who from hooker scored for NPEC in their Ranfurly Shield challenge against the Hawke’s Bay Magpies in 2021 — both drew first blood and delivered the coup de grâce at Windy Park with a double at the weekend.

City captain, openside flanker and MVP (most valuable player) Jack Richardson won the toss and chose to kick off on a cloudy day.

In answer to Tangaere’s first try, City fullback Dennis Te Kahika scored and lock Nathaniel Fox’s converted for a 7-5 lead.

Waiapu then went 8-7 ahead when fullback Hamuera Moana kicked a penalty goal.

Openside flanker Will Bolingford’s try, without a conversion, gave the home team a 13-7 lead at the break.

And the hosts struck following the resumption through tighthead prop Perrin Manuel, whose try Moana converted for 20-7.

City then sent their supporters nuts with a tremendous try to halfback Neihana Ratahi-Brown — converted by Fox — to close it to 20-14.

Tangaere then completed his double — minus a conversion — for 25-14. The last score of the game was City’s third try, it not being converted, to powerhouse first five-eighth Jesse Fleming.

Waiapu coach Jesse Haenga was delighted: “I’m very proud of Waiapu: just to be able to field a team for this season is a winner for me. To get a win is a bonus, but we still have a lot of gelling to do and a lot to work on.”

Tokomaru Bay United have made an excellent start to 2022.

The Lisa Muller-coached blue-and-whites took their show on the road at the weekend, and began the competition with a 12-10 win against Hicks Bay.

Muller, who began her club coaching career with Ruatoria City and was assistant coach to Kuru Gray at United last year, said: “Despite two floods, road closures and Hatea-a-Rangi — our home ground — being closed, our boys have been putting in the work and I’m proud of them.

“Our defence was what pleased me most and that’s why Erutini Walker, our hooker, was our MVP: he tackled hard and he ran hard.”

Tokomaru Bay United fielded six debutants against Hicks Bay: Ben Satterthwaite (lock), Henry Subtil (lock), Lockie Nelson (reserve blindside flanker), Daniel Leach (No.8), Tom McLean (second-five) and Ethan Smallbone (reserve left wing).

In ideal conditions with a strong nor’westerly breeze, the 250 in attendance were treated to a gripping battle.

The game featured all the juicy flavour of a traditional Hicks Bay-United clash: strong forward play, jarring defence and tries hard-earned.

Hicks Bay captain and first-five Shaun Murtagh won the toss and chose an end. United tighthead prop Mike Chambers-Raroa opted to kick off.

Although their guests hit them like a hammer from the off, Hicks Bay opened the scoring with a try to centre Wahapeka Campbell in the seventh minute.

No conversion resulted.

Not until the 33rd minute did Tokomaru Bay United respond: weight of possession and better field position finally told on the home team. TBU loosehead prop Wyntah Riki dotted down six metres to the right of the posts, which with a conversion from reserve first-five Seb Chambers-Raroa gave Muller’s outfit a 7-5 lead at halftime.

It took until the 57th minute for the away team to cut the line again, in exactly the same manner, shunt by shunt, until Mike Chambers-Raroa made good eight metres in from the right corner.

United led 12-5.

And seven points was the margin between the sides until the 78th minute, when Hicks Bay lock Weihana Delamere scored in the right corner.

No conversion followed.

NPEC Rugby former chairman Graeme Summersby acknowledged that the teams’ forward confrontation was a major feature, but so, too, was referee Eriera Kawhia’s great service.

Summersby said: “Ed had a very good game. He was consistent and his signals were clear.”

Tokomaru Bay joined Waiapu in the winners’ circle.

Hikurangi beat Tokararangi by default and the game between defending champions Uawa and Tihirau Victory Club was postponed.