It was pouring down with sunshine across the Valley for the latest round of matches. Hard and fast conditions led to some exciting rugby and plenty of points. It was business as usual for the three front runners, with Waihi, Paeroa and Waihou continuing their winning ways. In a tussle for the last spot in the top four, Whangamata wanted to lose slightly less than Thames did, and took the win to claim the position – for now, with Thames and COBRAS all within two log points.

A huge crowd and glorious conditions greeted the front running Paeroa Green Machine at Lyon Park for their match against the mighty Mercury Bay Marlins. After Paeroa’s last match under lights in almost completely opposite conditions, the visitors turned on some good running rugby – as did the home side, a great advertisement for day time rugby!

Paeroa, on the back of a wrecking ball disguised as a hooker, had control of the first half, Oneone Soisoi was a hard man to stop as Paeroa took a 28-5 lead into the break for oranges.

It was looking ominous for the home team, but on the back of some powerful Dane Mathew carries, Mercury Bay battled back into the match. Two tries early in the second half gave the Marlins some hope, but 15-28 was as good as it got as Paeroa regained control and ran out 45-15 winners after the full 80.

Mercury Bay 15 (M Save, C McAuley, J Finnerty tries), lost to Paeroa 45 (O Siosio 2, S Taloa, P Ioasa, C Sipa, L Tiatia tries; N Emery 6 conversions, penalty). HT 5-28

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In a match closer than the scoreboard indicated, Waihi continued their unbeaten run, but were made to work hard by a COBRAS team that was rebounding from a spanking at the hands of Whangamata a week earlier.

The Snakes scored early through Leroy Neels to put the pressure onto Waihi, but thanks to th e boot of first five Quinn Collard, Waihi eased their way back into the game, advancing the scoreboard by threes before winger Bellamy added to his season’s tally of five pointers. Waihi were guilty at times of trying too hard and forcing the ball, once they settled into their work, and let Collard dictate the pace of the game, they looked more like the well oiled machine they’ve been over the opening five rounds.

COBRAS battled well, and kept the scoreline to 14-16 at the half, and were giving the Waihi scrum troubles, tighthead prop Jahvani Lolesi having a top match at the set piece, disrupting the Waihi scrum throughout. Eventually Waihi’s superior fitness told, with the COBRAS set piece running out of steam, and with possession getting better as the match progressed, Collard took control. It was not a one sided battle though, halfback Neels for the Snakes did everything humanly possible for the home side, a masterclass of halfback play – two tries a deserved reward.

Waihi’s battle hardened co-captain Brett Ranga led by example with some bone crushing tackles, and a neatly taken try. James Mahi at prop again a handful with ball in hand and halfback Asher Delany’s battle with Neels game within the game – a treat to watch two quality players. COBRAS Neels, and first five Sione Etoni both were class acts, and their fullback Sergio Schuler was also in fine form.

Moment of the match – a cross field kick from Collard to wing Tayla Turnbull, who collected the pinpoint kick and dotted down. As fine a kick and receipt as you would see on any field at any level.

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COBRAS 21 (L Neels 2, S Etoni tries; Neels 3 conversions) lost to Waihi Athletic 38 (A Delany, D Bellamy, B Ranga, T Turnbull tries; Q Collard 3 conversions, 4 penalties). HT 14-16

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In a match that had big implications for the race for fourth spot on the Thames Valley ladder, Whangamata were narrow victors over Thames in a tight game at the Boom Pitt. The game had lead changes, a yellow card, and tries to please the forward and the back enthusiast.

Thames looked sharp from the outset and applied real pressure to Whangamata which the home side weathered until Stacey Ili scored from close range.

Then two tries came from rolling mauls. The first was set by Whangamata and was akin to a freight train that was still picking up speed on its way over the line, engineer Jake Barfoot credited with score. Then a clever play on the short side from an attacking lineout and quick hands from lock Tevita Poese put his second row partner Corbin Saunders over the line for the try.

Penalties either side of half time gave Whangamata a 16-13 lead and saw Thames reduced to fourteen men. Thames were unphased from the loss of a man, and a chip over the Whangamata defence was gathered by Laulea Mau, who turned the Whangamata fullback into a speedbump to score and regain the lead for Thames. A tight tussle for supremacy ensued between the two well matched packs. Mau was a man on a mission and regularly got go-forward ball for his team. But Whangamata’ s defensive worked doggedly and repelled Thames’ attacks on their line.

At times it looked like neither team wanted to win, with lineout mishaps and handling errors halting their chances of getting into scoring positions. In the end it was ill discipline that cost Thames, gifting Whangamata field position who set up camp and went to work. Eventually Finn McCall broke the line and rounded under the posts for the five points, Tiaontin Raoren added the extras, and Whangamata hung on for the win, 23-20.

For Whangamata, Tupou Tonga was a threat with ball in hand and made several line breaks. Brian Murphy kept his backline in check with and without the ball, making slick runs and important tackles. Lock Tim Bond was a colossus in the tight, while locking partner McCall grew more influential as the game progressed.

Thames’ Laulea Mau is always difficult to stop and he put everything into getting his team over the line. He was well backed up by lock forward Saunders and fullback Dwayne Hughes whose ability to offload in the tackle created many opportunities for his team. Halfback Seth Roe controlled play well for the visitors.

The upshot is that for now Whangamata move into that coveted fourth spot. Thames drop one place to fifth but both teams will know they have a battle on their hands to stay in the mix, especially with COBRAS also sniffing around. These are two teams to keep an eye on as the season heads towards the business end.

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Whangamata 23 (J Barfoot, K Gilbert, F McCall tries; T Raoren conversion, 2 penalties) beat Thames 20 (L Mau, C Saunders, S Ili tries; T Tutapu conversion, penalty). HT 13-13

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Waihou ran away comfortable winners over a struggling North at Waitak International, with the highlight of the match being Waihou hooker Sam van der Valk dotting down for four tries in a 20 minute spell of super subbing. Not only lineout drive tries either, with three coming from being in the right place at the right time to finish off a purple patch of scoring for the Mongoose.

Waihou led at the half 20-3, and North were in danger of conceding a massive score, but dug deep, and scored a couple of tries in the final ten minutes to give respectability to the score sheet. After the Van der Valk onslaught, it looked like the floodgates were going to open, but North found another gear and made Waihou work hard for their win.

Big games in the Waihou pack from stalwart lock Tim Erceg and number 8 Hamish McLennan, while Adam Ratcliffe, back from a nasty hamstring tear was straight back to form.

North lost stalwart halfback Matty Fisher, who was in fine form again, to a leg injury that may see him out for the remainder of the season, a huge loss. Stepping up and having big games were Harry Ratcliffe at fullback, while in the engine room, prop Tristan Tahitahi continued his vein of good form, along with opensider Isaac Broad, and the evergreen centurion Ants Corbett.

North 15 ( H Ratcliffe, J Lowe tries; E Fiavaai conversion penalty) lost to Waihou 44 (S Van der Valt 4, L Gilbert, E Sicinilawa tries; R Stephenson 3 conversions, penalty). HT 3-20

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Mercury Bay 41 beat Waihou 7

COBRAS 50 beat Hauraki North 21

Waihi 28 beat Thames 19

Ngatea 12 lost to Whangamata 31

Coromandel the bye

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Hauraki North Diamonds 38 beat Taupiri 21

Rugby United 14 lost to Hautapu 29