MATCH WINNER: Steve Honey makes a telling break past Te Puna defender Hunter Mokomoko to set up brother Josh Honey, right, for a key try. PHOTO: ANDREW WARNER
MATCH WINNER: Steve Honey makes a telling break past Te Puna defender Hunter Mokomoko to set up brother Josh Honey, right, for a key try. PHOTO: ANDREW WARNER
Tauranga Sports responded to the challenge from unbeaten Te Puna Sports with a deserved 35-24 win at Tauranga Domain on Saturday.
The five-tries-to-three win puts Tauranga on top of the Baywide Premier table and gives a clear warning to their championship pedigree in 2017.
The victory over a willing Te Puna side, who tired noticeably in the second half after a tough game under lights on Tuesday night against Mount Maunganui, was built on yet another impressive performance from the forwards.
They never allowed Te Puna's lineout to settle and had the dominant scrum throughout. Their defensive screens held well, particularly when they were down to 13 men after two yellow cards awarded within two minutes of each other before the halftime break.
Despite the numerical advantage Te Puna were unable to score with the scores locked at 10-10. Why they kicked away so much possession in Tauranga's half against 13 players was puzzling.
Tauranga managed to get their hands on the ball and score a telling try just before the break to take a handy 18-10 lead.
The cards kept coming in the second half with a yellow, blue and red dished out in the autumn sunshine by referee Mate Samuels, who controlled the game well throughout.
Te Puna first-five Simon Rolleston was shown yellow for a head high tackle which Tauranga immediately took advantage of with hooker Alan McRobbie scoring.
TIGHT: Te Puna's Terrence Hepetema is tackled against Tauranga Sports. PHOTO: Andrew Warner.
Tauranga had three Honey brothers in action in the backline and in quick succession fullback Josh and replacement winger Steve produced some magic down the grandstand touchline to score a try each and put the game beyond Te Puna.
Trailing 35-10 Te Puna fought back well with Steamers centre Terrence Hepetema heavily involved. He made the initial break and fed lock Shahn Eru, playing his last game before leaving to take up a contract in France, who put No 8 Dan Baxter into space and the try.
Rolleston was then on the end of a stiff arm tackle from opposite Paul Morris which led to a red card for Morris and a blue concussion card for Rolleston. The blue card means he will be ineligible to play again until he passes some stringent medical protocols set down by New Zealand Rugby to protect players suffering from head knocks.
With Kaleb Trask in Hong Kong with the Chiefs Development team for another week it means finding a new 10 will be a priority next week for Tauranga.
Te Puna coach Aidan Kuka says Tauranga has a classy forward pack and thoroughly deserved their win.
"We had a short turn around so only had Thursday to prepare, which didn't really allow us to prepare, but that was not the main reason for a lacklustre performance," he said.
Tauranga coach Zane Winslade says the key moment came when they were reduced to 13 men but held firm defensively.
"I think if they had got a try that would have changed the whole game. The fact we scored in the time we had a player in the bin still was just huge and just shows the boys are willing to work for each other and work hard."
