REPORT | COASTAL TEAMS WITH RECORD WINS
REPORT | COASTAL TEAMS WITH RECORD WINS
Round 10 – From the clattering keyboard of Tighthead Ted
Mercury Bay’s 54-7 win over Hauraki North, and Whangamata’s 45-7 beating of COBRAS were both club records for the coastal clubs. I’m sure both clubs have memories of some large defeats in the past as they found their feet in the top division, so these wins will be savoured.
But the question remains – can Waihi Athletic be stopped? This time Waihou felt the pain as the Goldminers earned another ‘W’. While their performance was not at their usual level, it still appears the title is theirs to lose.
Perhaps slow burners Whangamata Irish, who have started to hit their straps, or Paeroa, who unfortunately had no match this week after another default can push the red ‘n’ blacks come finals time. These two teams, along with Waihou are perhaps the only sides able to challenge the Waihi dominance, although once the knockout matches hit, all bets are off.
WAIHOU v WAIHI ATHLETIC
Boyd Park #1, Te Aroha. Ref: Stu Watts
Waihi absorbed the Waihou pressure to remain unbeaten as they continue their march to their first title since 2018. It was not without faults though as many errors blighted their performance. But pleasing to see, for Athletic, that their goal kicking machine Quinn Collard continues to punish any penalties given within 50 metres. Waihou replied in kind, taking the three pointers as they came also, thanks to the boot of the returning Todd Doolan.
Waihou seemed to be chasing the game after starting well and putting the red ‘n’ blacks under set piece pressure. An early penalty and try to energetic hooker Scott Day, following a Cam Gerlach dot down saw the Mongoose leading 8-7 through the first quarter of the match. A try out wide to Ethan Seymour snatched the lead back, and then the Collard kicking machine added three quick penalties – to a single Doolan three pointer – to take the halftime lead 21-11.
The second spell developed into a bit of a cage fight, an exchange of tries, to excellent Waihi flanker Matt Axtens and Waihou’s Todd Doolan, along with a kick each in the first fifteen minutes wrapped up the scoring for the match. Waihou applied the blowtorch to the Waihi set piece which struggled at times, their usually reliable lineout creaking at the seams, but could not add to their points tally.
Big games for the visitors came from Dylan Bower at second five, the polished Collard running the cutter, and the loose trio. Kenan Gillson in a rare start at seven was his usual fearless self, throwing himself into contact with no regard to his own well being. Isaac Seiuli from number 8 was like a linebacker on angry pills, constantly getting his team over the gain line, and Axtens a class above in all that he did.
Waihou’s finest in an all-round top team effort were hooker Scotty Day, probably the best thrower in the Valley competition. Man mountain prop Siaosi Lelenoa, who put in another eighty-minute shift, and the lanky Luke Gilbert who is in a rich vein of form. Out back, the brylcreem boys, Todd Doolan hit the ground running in his first match of the season, class in all that he did. Stocky centre Chad Bracey in his second match for Waihou was again hard to stop and he constantly dented the Waihi defensive line.
The loss sees Waihou drop to a clear fourth on the ladder, putting their next week’s clash against COBRAS into the must win category. Not that they’ll need any more motivation for the Dr Dunn clash – Mongoose versus Snakes is always an epic encounter.
Waihi remain top of the standings, but with Paeroa breathing down their necks just three log points back they will have to keep winning with bonus points. Paeroa have the winless Hauraki North next week, and on form they should take a bonus point win. Waihi are away to Thames, but they too should have the home teams number and record a solid win.
Waihou 19 (S Day, T Doolan tries; Doolan 3 penalties) lost to Waihi 28 (C Gerlach, E Seymour, M Axtens tries; Q Collard 2 conversions, 3 penalties). HT 11-21
MERCURY BAY v HAURAKI NORTH
Lyon Park, Whitianga. Ref: Angus Mabey
The struggling Hauraki North team was put to the sword by Mercury Bay, for the home side to take their second win of the season. In an entertaining match at Whiti City, four tries in each half kept the large home crowd entertained. As the sun poured down onto Lyon Park, the Marlins ran in some long range beauties.
The Marlins did not have it all their own way despite the score sheet saying it was a thrashing. The North set piece tested the hometown pack, but it was about all the visitors offered. The loss of veteran lock Ants Corbett to a serious looking injury, along with a few other replacements saw North limp through to the full time whistle.
Mercury Bay were able to get the running game going this week after struggling against Waihi seven days earlier, and after multiple phases would usually make inroads through the North defence. Enjoying the fruits of these breaks, and sharing four tries between them were recently turned eighteen Colville Green and Marcus Save. Dane Mathew was another to shine out back, along with his centre partner Maui Paurini, both dotting down for five pointers.
The Mercury Bay pack enjoyed their work this week. Powerful displays from props Tyler Relph and Anzac Waterhouse, ably supported by lock and captain Jamie Finnerty and tireless Tyrese Meld at flanker saw the locals dominate in the loose. The home teams fitness saw the pace of the game take its toll on the depleted North team too.
Next week Mercury Bay head to Whangamata to take on the resurgent red ‘n’ whites for the Coastal Shield, which they haven’t held for, “A bloody long time”. Both teams with record wins this week, the match should be a cracker. Hauraki North are at home for their sponsors day, along with their B division side and the Diamonds. They have the Green Machine on the menu, a tough match for the Blue Bulls as the attempt to break their duck for the season.
Mercury Bay 54 (A Waterhouse, C McLeod, D Mathew, M Paurini, C Green 2, M Save 2 tries; C Curren 7 conversions) beat Hauraki North 7 (S White try; F Adams conversion). HT 28-7
COBRAS v WHANGAMATA
Boyd Park #2, Te Aroha. Ref: Stu Pinny
Whangamata started this match looking a little ring rusty, not having fired a shot in anger for three weeks, thanks to the Match of Origin bye and a default by North. An early try, from a lineout drive, to flanker Jake Barfoot was negated a few minutes later by a try to the Snakes Leroy Neels. Shortly after Neels left the field with a head injury, and the COBRAS lost a little of their venom. With Whangamata also shaking their heads and getting rid of the cobwebs, they scored another close quarter try through tough number eight Tupou Tonga, and took a 12-7 lead into the orange break.
The second spell was a shut out, Tonga grabbing his second try after some fine work by Telly Hemopo and Takarangi Kerepeti on the counterattack. Wing Daniel Bent then scored and converted his own five pointer for a handy 24-7 lead. COBRAS tried hard, but with the loss of Neels, they had lost their edge. Sione Etoni, in his 50th match, gave his all from first five, and made some nice breaks, and along with fullback Sergio Schuler took some containing, but Whangamata stopped all that the Snakes could throw at them through the middle period of the second stanza.
In an action packed final ten minutes, Whangamata exploded into action, Kerepeti first grabbed a five pointer to celebrate his 50th match. This was followed two minutes later by Finn McCall being rewarded for a fine match with a score, and then fellow Irishman Ben Clarke also got onto the scorecard. All three tries converted by Bent. The twenty-one point burst in just six minutes saw Whangamata score their biggest win over the Snakes in the premier division.
Big games for the red ‘n’ whites from new hooker Jack O’Halloran, tireless in another 80 minute effort, the converted flanker has found his feet in the front row, making every post a winner. On the flip side of the same coin, last season’s hooker Jake Janson, playing at flanker, also had a massive match. Leading from the front with his two try effort was Tonga, making many strong runs and getting Whangamata go forward ball seemingly on demand.
Whangamata’s Ben Clarke at first five is proving composed and hard to rattle as he, and the rest of the four leaf clover boys find their feet at the beach. Finn McCall, back for his second season, was again outstanding, his bending of the hard charging Snake prop Sualiasi Koroirua as good a head on tackle as you could wish to see. Kerepeti on the wing enjoyed his best game for the season, making his 50th match for the red ‘n’ white would have seemed a long way off a few seasons ago, after a nasty ankle break.
The Snakes best were Neels in his 20 minutes, Etoni, and Schuler. Up front prop Koroirua was always hard to stop, grabbing the tree trunked sized legs proving difficult at times, and flanker Etonia Naba was also strong throughout. But not enough of the big men in jerseys one through eight stood up in the continued absence of their spiritual leader Cam Dromgool.
Dr Dunn next week for the Snakes against Waihou, and Whangamata have fellow record setters Mercury Bay at Whangamata.
COBRAS 7 (L Neels try, conversion) lost to Whangamata 45 (J Barfoot, T Tonga 2, D Bent, T Kerepeti, F McCall, B Clarke tries; Bent 5 conversions). HT 7-12
SENIOR B
Coromandel 16 beat COBRAS 10
Waihou 15 beat Whangamata 11
Waihi Athletic – bye
SENIOR C
Starts next week
UNDER 21
Rugby United 33 lost to Suburbs 38
WOMENS
Putararu 22 beat Hauraki North 19