CHARGE: Zane Heath leads the charge late in the second spell. PHOTO/Jason Bartley.
CHARGE: Zane Heath leads the charge late in the second spell. PHOTO/Jason Bartley.
The McClinchy Cup final at Waihi Athletic kicked off at 3pm last Saturday with the underdogs Whangamata keen to make history.
After just three minutes, Te Aroha opened the scoring with a penalty. This game was live-streamed with the commentators noting Whangamata looked shellshocked but, from a power scrum, the Red and Whites No 8 and captain Zach Clarke scored the first try.
First five Swanson made the sideline conversion look easy to make the score Whangamata 7, Te Aroha Cobras 3.
Big striding fullback Telly Hemopo ripped through the Te Aroha defence and from the resultant play, the ball was held up on the try line.
UNSTOPPABLE: Telly Hemopo in open spaces. PHOTO/Jason Bartley.
No matter as quick-thinking Clarke grabbed the ball from a strong scrum push to get try number two for his team and for his personal tally. Swanson knocked over the conversion for the halftime score of Whangamata 14, Te Aroha Cobras 3.
Without doubt, the disciplined and organised defensive effort by Whangamata in the opening 25 minutes of the second half was key to their eventual victory.
First-up tackles and swarming cover play limited the Te Aroha attacks and, at times, forced turnover of possession. Te Aroha camped on attack and came close to scoring but dropped the ball over the try line.
At 58 minutes, Te Aroha got their first try and converted for a nail-biting scoreline of Whangamata 14 Te Aroha Cobras 10.
Ground floodlights were turned on as the daylight receded and it was game on. The Red and Whites found another gear and boisterous flanker Zane Heath charged into Te Aroha territory.
Slick passing took the ball to backline leader Swanson who twisted in a tackle to dot down. He converted his own try to make it Whangamata 21 Te Aroha Cobras 10.
With eight minutes remaining, Te Aroha needed to score twice to snatch the cup. They managed an unconverted try to finish the scoring, Whangamata winning 21-15.
At the final whistle, the jubilant Red and White team were ecstatic as their fans quickly got into party mode with fireworks and chanting.
HUDDLE: The jubilant team post-match. PHOTO/Alison Smith.
Congratulations Whangamata Rugby, a magnificent effort. Thanks to the coaching and management team of head coach Gareth Coslett, coaches Leon Holden and Dave Dillon, player-coaches Tui Hall, Michael Fleming and Brendon Mckeown, physio Lily Robertson, manager Geoff Spargo, assistant manager Takarangi Kerepeti and club president Murray Cleland. Cheers to the many club, team and player sponsors, your assistance is hugely appreciated.
