Near perfect conditions greeted the two teams as they took the field for the inaugural match for the Surf n Turf Cup. The Cup – donated by the recently deceased Myles MacDuff, wife Helen and children Greer and William. For the first 30 minutes it was game on, with the underdog North side putting an error prone Whangamata side under pressure.

The red ‘n’ whites though managed to hold on through the early stages, and while a man down dotted down out wide with number-eight Tupoa Tonga being on the end of the line for the five pointer.

The match was still an even battle, and a halftime scoreline of 5-0 would have been a fair indication of the opening stanza, but the larger Whangamata forward pack was just starting to gain dominance. Two quick tries, to the previously sin binned hooker Jack O’Halloran and a hard charging Tim Bond saw a 19-0 scoreline, flattering to the visitors.

The second spell kicked off with a deluge of tries. After five minutes hooker O’Halloran got his second, followed by captain Jake Barfoot, who was the pick of the forwards, fullback Daniel Bent, flyhalf Ben Clarke and winger TJ Wise. Five tries in fifteen minutes blew North out of the water.

North dug deep though, and had the upper hand for the final fifteen minutes, but the damage had been done in a red hot spell of scoring. A consolation try to Eveni Faaleaoga, converted by Philemon Pritchard bought the game to a close, handing Whangamata the Surf ‘n’ Turf Cup for the first time.

Whangamata were well served, once the mistakes were shelved, by their large forward pack. Standouts from the well performing eight were tighthead prop Jordan Cordice, locks Bond and McCall, and hard charging captain and openside flanker Barfoot. Tiaontin Raoren continues to impress at halfback and hard running second five Sonny Rau had his best game of the season.

Hauraki North 7 (E Faaleaoga try; P Pritchard conversion)
lost to Whangamata 48 (J O’Halloran 2, T Bond, J Barfoot, TJ Wise, D Bent, B Clarke, T Tonga tries; Wise 4 conversions)
HT 0-19

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The young Mercury Bay team were put to the sword by the undefeated Waihi Athletic team on Saturday, with the home side playing a brutal direct game in the opening passages to set the tone for the match. With two tries on the board in the opening five minutes the match was an all uphill slog for the visitors. Waihi were playing with power and control, controlling the collisions and the points flowed.

Credit though to the young Mercury Bay side, the 3-29 halftime scoreline could have blown out to a cricket score, but the plucky coasters limited the machine that Waihi has become to three tries. The result was never in doubt though, with Mercury Bay rarely threatening the Waihi tryline as Athletic claimed their first piece of silverware since the McClinchy in 2018.

The Waihi forward pack excelled, none more so than flanker Kenan Gilson who was thrust into the hooker jersey at late notice. A near flawless display of throwing, and his usual polished display around the field saw him named player of the day. Locks Ben Mellow and Dylan Horne (celebrating his 100th match) were alos powerful throughout, as was veteran Brett Ranga. Highlight of a polished backline division was the ‘NRL’ try in the opening minute of the match to Dylan Bellamy, scoring in the corner to open the floodgates.

Mercury Bay tried hard to a man, but among those to catch the eye were midfielder Dane Mathew, lead by example captain Jamie Finnerty, and fullback Connor McCauley. Special mention for Mikare Waterhouse at prop also, putting in a huge shift of a full match in the curtain raiser before 40 minutes at the coalface in the main event – who says props cant go the full 80, try 120!

Waihi 46 (D Bellamy, J Mahi, E Seymour, D Rangi, B Nightingale, I Seiuli, J Hill tries; K Craig-Ranga 1, Q Collard 3 conversions; Collard penalty)
beat Mercury Bay 3 (C Curran penalty). HT 29-3

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Boyd Park, Te Aroha. Referee: R Rogers

In the much anticipated clash of 2 v 3 on the log, Paeroa demolished the home team, hitting the lead with a try ion the first minute to returning from injury Ionatana Telea Faaleaoga and never relinquishing it. A further try to winger John Penu and a penalty to Nathan Emeery saw a 17-3 lead after 30 minutes. A try late in the first spell to Waihou’s second five Eliki Sicinilawa bought the score closer, but Paeroa were still well in control.

Waihou’s strong set piece saw them start to claw back some equality, but intercept tries, and ill discipline meant the home side were never going to win the match as Paeroa kept the scoreboard ticking over. Two late tries saw some respectability added to the score sheet in what was a match to forget for the home supporters.

Standouts in the match were Waihou’s Daniel Pearce, who fought an avalanche of white and green jerseys for 80 minutes, Paeroa’s Nathan Emery who controlled the match well, and winger John Penu, with two five pointers, one a classic wingers try, the other a well read intercept. Ryan Rogers controlled the at times testy match well, but was forced to deliver a red card to last week’s four try super sub Sam van der Valk, after dishing the hooker a second yellow late in the match.

Waihou 18 (E Sicinilawa, C Wood, M McClimont trues; A Ratcliffe penalty)
lost to Paeroa 44 (J Penu 2, I Telea Faaleaoga, T Malielegaoi, K May-Matafeo, H Beazley tries; N Emery 4 conversions, 2 penalties).
HT 8-17

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In the tight tussle for the fourth spot, Thames have thrown a spanner in the works for COBRAS, winning 20-10 in a dour battle at Rhodes Park.

Thames were the fitter of the two sides, and controlled territory and possession better than the visitors, who were missing influential halfback Leeroy Neels.

In a game that saw no kicks landed, but the posts threatened closely, four tries to two was a fair result. Thames lead ten nil at halftime, and managed to hold that margin at the end, 20-10. COBRAS will be ruing two yellow cards in the first spell that removed any chance of taking control of a match that could have been there for the taking.

Thames 20 (Laulea Mau 2, S Roe, J Tavura tries)
beat COBRAS 10 (S Etoni, S Schuler tries).
HT 10-0

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Waihi Athletic 44 beat Mercury Bay 14

Thames 20 lost to COBRAS 36

Waihou 26 beat Hauraki North 17

Coromandel 29 beat Ngatea 13

Whangamata the bye

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Hauraki North 0 lost to Eastern Suburbs 15

Matamata 7 lost to Thames Valley United 29