Rugby: Mount prevail in a war of attrition

Mount Maunganui prop Solomona Sakalia charges through the Te Puke defence at Mount College on Saturday. Photo / Andrew Warner

Mount Maunganui Sports remain unbeaten after two rounds of the WBOP club rugby round following a hard-fought 18-13 win over Te Puke Sports on Saturday.

The tightness of the score and lack of try scoring opportunities was opposite to what happened at Greerton Park as Tauranga Sports ran riot to beat Greerton Marist 78-14. At Maramatanga Park home team Te Puna were too strong for Rangataua, winning 25-3 and the Gilly Bidois Trophy for another year.

Mount Maunganui had to move off Blake Park for ground maintenance and hosted Te Puke at Mount College. The setting was apt as there were as many unforced handling errors as any schoolboy game.

Te Puke had first use of a strong diagonal wind but did not utilise it as well as Mount Maunganui in the second spell. New first-five Clayton Stewart, who hails from Manawatu, grew into the game well after missing a simple kick in the first few minutes and his six penalties from nine attempts won the match.

The only try went to Te Puke centre Declan Barnett who sprinted away untouched after yet another handling error. Down 7-0, the home side got stuck into their work with Steamers prop Solomona Sakalia a standout with some impressive charges with the ball into and over the top of the defence.

Penalties were flying thick and fast which gave goal kickers Stewart and Dan Hollinshead plenty of practice. Stewart led Hollinshead 5-2 at the break in successful kicks to have Mount Maunganui up 15-13 at the break.

The second spell was a war of attrition between two fierce packs with no quarter given. Stewart kicked another penalty to secure the win but there is much to work on for both sides ahead of the Baywide round beginning in May.

Mount Maunganui head coach Rodney Voullaire was shaking his head afterwards about the number of ruck penalties conceded.

"It has been two years now so we should be clearing up that area but it is the beginning of the season. These games are supposed to be not meaning much but it was awesome to see how everyone is getting into it over the first two weeks."

Te Puke coach Craig Jeffries says the key to the game was field position and Mount did that well. He was happy with the effort shown by his team despite losing their opening two games.

"We showed a lot of endeavour and character in what we did but we were in the wrong zone at the wrong end of the field. It was simple as that. Any mistake was punishable by three points. We got mauled in the penalty count in the rucks and mauls. I thought the referee [Jamie Bell] did a good job. It was just some of the penalties we conceded were pretty average."