Ngatapa go the distance against gritty High School Old Boys

Ngatapa lock Dan Law on the charge in a premier club rugby game against High School Old Boys. Law was Most Valuable Player for the Green Machine in their 42-26 win against a lively HSOB. Picture by Paul Rickard

Ngatapa were tested but eventually outlasted High School Old Boys in a premier club rugby game at the Oval on Saturday.

Larsawn Ngatapa won 42-26 in a hotly contested match from which both teams were clearly hungry to gain maximum points .

Ngatapa, though, ultimately proved they could go the distance and picked up five points for their eight-try efforts, including a double to  fullback Ricardo Patricio.

HSOG got a bonus point for tries scored.

Ngatapa co-coach Kohi Waihi said HSOB made them work for the points.

“I thought our start was good and the set-pieces improved, particularly our scrum and lineout,” Waihi said.

“When we did stick to structure we looked good and scored points.

“The other thing was in the end we did get tested by HSOB, so that was also good.”

Waihi said there were some areas that worked well while HSOB identified areas they needed to work on. They had  time to address those issues before the beginning of the second round.

“Certainly after halftime I didn’t think we exerted ourselves as much as we could have — as we did in the first half.

“It gives us something to work on . . . and make sure we execute it well  if we are going to really compete with the other teams in the top- four.”

Earthwork Solutions HSOB coach Wayne Ensor was a bit gutted.

“The rub of the green didn’t go our way. Once again we struggled to get a front row together, which was a real hassle,” Ensor said.

“With the injuries in the team, a break will do us a world of good for some of our players who are involved in the Town v Country game. We have to wait and see how we go over the next few weeks.”

Lock Dan Law’s powerful game earned him Most Valuable Player for Ngatapa while hooker Tavite Ikavesa was HSOB’s MVP.

NGATAPA  42

(Ricardo Patricio, Filimone Drua, Khian Westrupp, Reuben Papuni, Sam Hudson, Dan Law, Tane Ruru tries; Patricio 2 con, pen)

HSOB 26

(Tavite Ikavesa, Matthew Proffit, Rylan Tuwairua-Brown, Bryan Howard tries; Howard 3 con)

GT Shearing Waikohu continued their “week-to-week” progression with a 36-19 victory over Kevin Hollis Glass Pirates.

“The boys showed heart on the weekend with all the injuries and players not turning up,” Waikohu coach Tane McGuire said.

“The boys showed heart to play the way they did.”

Pirates coach Anthony Kiwara was impressed by his side’s defence against last year’s runners-up.

“Especially when Waikohu had us camped on our try line,” Kiwara said. “Also when our impact players came on in the second half, that lifted the boys and we started getting some momentum.”

He praised the efforts of all his players but singled out one who he felt made a special mark and got himself firmly into coach’s good books.

“Lock Netani Seruwaqa had an outstanding game and he was our player of the day.”

Blindside flanker Kimihia Matiaha earned the MVP nod for Waikohu.

This weekend, the premier grade will be taking a break as Poverty Bay relaunch the Town v Country match where clubs combine to create teams and players are selected by coaches.

The Town squad is composed of OBM, Pirates and HSOB players while YMP, Waikohu and Ngatapa players make up the Country team.

The match is at Paddy’s Park , Patutahi, at 2.45pm.

WAIKOHU 36

(Peryhn Martin, Ethine Reeves, Kimihia Matiaha, Tristan Morten, KC Wilson, Tulsa Kaui tries; Reeves 3 con)

PIRATES 19

(Paula Tatafu, Andrew Tau, Viliami Mosaati tries; Fakatava 2 con)