A hard and fast track greeted the teams as they ran out onto the field, then after a minutes silence and the last post observed, the match started. Thames must have still been observing that minute, as Waihi cut them open and had their first five pointer after 120 seconds. A Matty Axtens surge up the middle, a classy offload to Dylan Horne, and then an even classier offload off the ground from Horne to tighthead prop Siosaia Fifita saw the big man crash over by the posts. A missed conversion from usually reliable kicker Quinn Collard, and Thames were chasing the game from then on in.

Waihi dominated proceeding for the next twenty minutes, with tries to man of the match Axtens and winger Bellamy – courtesy of a lovely kick through from Collard – and a penalty. Twenty-two nil after twenty-one minutes and Thames looked in deep scheisse. The Taniwha dug their way out though, and after being starved of possession and position for the opening quarter, they finally started to get some pill. With their midfield of Joji Tavura and Laulea Mau running hard and making inroads into the tough Waihi defence, they were rewarded with a try to big lock Corbin Saunders. A lovely sideline conversion from Samuels Tutapu, and the first spell ended 22-7 to the home side.

Waihi started quickly in the second chapter of the match, energizer bunny flanker Kenan Gillson claiming a five pointer from a lineout drive, and then eightman Isaac Seiuli repeating the dose from another. The middle period then turned into an arm wrestle, Thames battling hard, but with a faltering lineout, they were unable to apply pressure for long periods. In this time, big Waihi lock Ben Mellow looked like he should have been wearing a black and blue jersey, snaring four in a row off their throw.

The final ten minutes almost overheated the scoreboard, Waihi piled on three more tries, and Thames snatched their second. Lock Horne was rewarded for a non-stop effort with a five pointer. Man mountain midfielder Kevin Inoke crashed over by the posts, and then Bellamy with his second try out wide – laid on by some Inoke magic. Thames put a full stop to the match, scoring after the hooter, substitute hooker Weston Waite busting over under the posts.

Thames would have been disappointed with their lineout, having to revert to trick-plays after Mellow’s dismantling of that set piece, but their scrum shaded the locals. Meanwhile the Waihi lineout was a different beast from a week previously, hooker Ethan Bentley doing the mahi and rewarded with a near perfect record after a top 80 minute shift.

There were a few players who must have caught the eye of Thames Valley coach Harrison, (who was multitasking with Daddy-Day-Care duties also). Thames fullback/halfback Seth Roe, who battled a never-ending tide of red and black, and the midfield pair of Mau and Tavura, who were a handful for 80 minutes. Among the low numbers to put in quality shifts were the too many times mentioned Saunders, and tough as teak flanker Caeleb Duffin.

Waihi’s entire pack was on song, loose forwards Axtens and Gillson standouts. Prop James Mahe was always dangerous with ball in hand, and veteran front-ranker Brad Nightingale produced a tackling masterclass in his 40 minutes. The Waihi high numbers showed at times how lethal they can be, with no one putting in a bad game – Collard ran well, and wing Petoru Pouri-Lane showcased his versatility taking over at halfback.

Waihi 51 (D Bellamy 2, K Gilson, D Horne, K Inoke, I Seiuli, S Fifita, M Axtens tries; Collard 4 conversions, penalty) beat Thames 14 (C Saunders, W Waite tries; S Tutapu 2 conversions). HT: 22-7.

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In the Friday Morning Rugby Chat on The Valley’s FaceBook page, soothsayers Scotty Day and Leon Holden predicted that goalkicking would be the winning and losing of this clash, and so it was. A sideline conversion from Ronin Stephenson, in an ugly duckling of kicks, snuck over the cross-bar to give Waihou the victory. This was also the first time Wahou held the lead in the match, after trailing 0-7 at the change of direction, and 6-12 with time up on the clock.

COBRAS will be ruing three missed kicks through the game, all ‘sitters’. But on the other side of the same coin, Waihou will be kicking themselves after butchering two dead set try opportunities in the first forty, a knock on with the line open, and number 8 Dan Pearce dropping the ball in the process of forcing it. So perhaps fourteen points done cold by Waihou, and nine by the Snakes – but then where would the drama have come from!

COBRAS started like a house on fire, winning collisions and out-enthusing the Mongoose, but were not rewarded for their early dominance over the first twenty minutes. It became a wrestling match from then on in, as Waihou warmed into their work. Neither side was able to put the other into a headlock and exert any constant pressure to keep the scoreboard moving. COBRAS scrum was taking control of the game, and perhaps this could have been used more.

The game battled on, a tough affair, no quarter asked or given, either side in with a chance of the win. Waihou were the team to find another gear though in the last few minutes. With captain Sam McCahon leading the way, phase play saw Waihou finally break the COBRAS defence for their first five pointer, and a one point deficit, kick to come. The rest is the stuff of legends – the day of the miracle conversion!

Sergio Schuler at fullback one of COBRAS best and Waihou got full value from halfback Devyn Sheehan. Soothsayer Scotty Day gave punch from the bench for Waihou, as did the Snake’s Rowan Dare.

COBRAS 12 (L Neels, K Paseka tries; S Schuler conversion) lost to Waihou 13 (D Morgan try; R Stephenson conversion, 2 penalties). HT: 7-0

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SENIOR B RESULTS | Round 4.

Waihi 25 v Whangamata 23

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Coromandel 39 v Waihou 10

Mercury Bay 27 v Hauraki North 29

Ngatea 17 v COBRAS 27