Understatement has its nuances.
Rugby people aren’t in the habit of blowing their own trumpet but Hicks Bay’s 21-12 away win against Hikurangi Te Maunga to claim the Pirika Frederick William Huriwai-Jones Memorial Trophy at Kahuitara is worth crowing about.
Aaron King and Warren Henderson’s black-and-whites (14 competition points) outscored the previously unbeaten Maunga (19pts) three tries to one in the hardest-fought match of Week 6 of the H Blackbee Contractors Ngāti Porou East Coast men’s club rugby competition.
Tokararangi (20pts), who beat Pango Productions Waiapu (8pts) 19-13 at George Nepia Memorial Park in Rangitukia at the weekend, have — like the Maunga and defending champions Tihirau Victory Club of Cape Runaway (19pts) —won four of five games.
Fifth-placed Ruatoria City (10pts) beat Waima — who are still searching for a competition point — 41-17 at Hatea-a-Rangi Memorial Park in Tokomaru Bay.
It is not the custom for New Zealand rugby players, let alone captains, to over-praise or embellish. In that spirit, although Hicks Bay skipper and second five-eighth Manahi Brooking restricted his output to “it was a tough game”, the comment spoke to the clash in question being so physical as to make eyes water.
Athough there was little wind, sheets of rain came in from the south throughout the first Hikurangi-Hicks Bay meeting this season.
Former NPEC head coach and expert front-row forward Whetu Haerewa refereed the match, and did a fine job with regard to player safety in the conditions.
On a heavy ground, Hicks Bay No.8 Frank Taiapa opened the scoring with a try in the 27th minute. No conversion followed, and Hikurangi struck back 94 seconds later.
Scrum anchor Putahi Morice’s try was also unconverted, and the score was 5-5.
Two of the most important moments in the game followed soon after.
Mighty Hicks Bay first five-eighth Terangi Fraser landed two penalty goals — the first at the 37th minute, the second on the cusp of halftime — to give the visitors an 11-5 lead at the break.
In the 47th minute, the home team gained the upper hand, courtesy of a try to right wing Hone Manuel and conversion by captain and fullback Kris Palmer, for 12-11.
Reserve openside flanker Anton King of Hicks Bay was the next to score, 63 minutes in, for 16-12. Again, no conversion followed, but the visitors hung in until reserve tighthead prop Josh King’s try made the game safe for Hicks Bay, 21-12.
Hicks Bay chose as their MVP (most valuable player) blindside flanker Weihana Delamere, while for Hikurangi right wing Tipene Meihana won that award.
Meihana had a good match all-round but he wasn’t the only Mountain Man to make his presence felt. Maunga No.6 Karauria Keelan’s fitness and strength did not go unnoticed.
“Karauria tackled hard for the whole game,” Palmer said.
“It was a pretty messy, with the weather, and we tried to play it wide. Hicks Bay just played simple, effective wet-weather rugby.”
Nathaniel Fox has long been a top performer for Ruatoria City.
And on Saturday it would have given that 101-year-old club a great deal of satisfaction to honour the goal-kicking lock whose 100th official game it was at the weekend.
The occasion also served as a commemoration of Ngāti Porou East Coast Kaupoi No.718, the late Robert Tuari, who played for Ruatoria City, Tokomaru Bay United, Ngatapa and High School Old Boys. Robert’s twin, James, Kaupoi No.745, coaches the Waima women’s team.
Robert passed away on October 23 last year on Lochore Cup final day during the Ruatoria City Centennial match.
On Saturday at Hatea-a-Rangi Memorial Park, awful weather aside, City put on a wonderful display with a seven-tries-to-two showing against Waima.
Legendary hooker John Brown scored a double, and lock Tuterangi Williams, openside flanker Tony Campbell, halfback Neihana Ratahi-Brown, captain and second-five Jack Richardson, and reserve tighthead prop Parourangi Poutu all dotted down, with Ngarimu, Ratahi-Brown and Richardson all converting their own tries.
First-five Slade Tiopira kicked a first-half penalty goal for Waima, and the score at the break was 15-3 to the visitors. Tiopira also converted Waima’s two second-half tries, to himself and tighthead prop Codey Ellis.
Lisa Muller balanced her responsibilities as Waima head coach and as assistant referee to Eruera Kawhia, but found voice after one of the wettest games played at the ground to remark on the physicality of the game.
Lorne Boyce-Goldsmith, who last played for Waima some 22 years ago, came off the bench at hooker for City.
Richardson said: “The game was rugged — and enjoyable.”
The team in orange and black is gritty.
The team in orange and black is Pango Productions Waiapu, who gave competition leaders Tokararangi a real push in Week 6.
Te Araroa-based Tokararangi won the game 19-13, due in large part to their try-scorers Pamona Samupo and Te Aho Haenga. Samupo dotted down for a tremendous double.
Whakarae Henare and Rapata Haerewa came to the party with one conversion apiece.
Wahapeka Campbell and Josh Kururangi picked up the MVP awards for Tokararangi and Waiapu respectively.
Tokararangi led 7-0 at the break and Waiapu defended every inch of George Nepia Memorial Park — “Windy Park” — as if their lives depended on it.