25-20 clash of last year and in addition to earning them four competition points, NPEC retained the Bill Osborne Taonga.
The Kaupoi, who led 21-14 at halftime in their opener against Wairarapa before going down 32-31, went to the break 5-3 ahead on Saturday but this time finished job — scoring three tries to one.
“Our forward pack were dominant and set a solid platform for us,” Coast head coach Kahu Tamatea said. “I was pleased that the boys played tough and that they did it for the whole 80 minutes.”
Tamatea’s opposite John Sherratt paid tribute to the Sky Blues’ durability and resolve.
“Full respect to NPEC. They played to their strengths and got the win,” he said. “It was a good battle between teams with contrasting styles but it was also a game that we let go by not taking the chances we created.”
Mid-Canterbury were awarded 13 penalties to the Coast’s nine by referee Tipene Cottrell (Hawke’s Bay) — a 9-4 count in the second half.
The lineout stat was 8-all at the break but 16-12 to NPEC in the final analysis. the Coast also won five first-half scrums to two (7-6 in total).
The visitors they turned the ball over four times to the Coast’s three.
On an overcast, brisk day, Kaupoi captain and halfback Sam Parkes won the coin toss and chose direction.
Following a moment of silence for Matiria — the wife of former NPEC president and Kaupoi No.336 the late John Manuel — and the Coast’s traditional pre-match haka, Hammers first-five Joshua Jennings kicked off.
The Coast lost right-wing Pamona Samupo temporarily with an injury to his right hand just two minutes in. His replacement, Verdon Bartlett, won his 95th cap.
Tighthead prop and skipper Adam Williamson’s outfit opened the scoring 10 minutes in when Jennings kicked an easy penalty goal from 18m out.
In the 15th minute, the tempo went up. Mid-Canterbury blindside flanker Rory Duff stole lineout ball from the Coast in front of the grandstand at halfway and moments later the Coast almost lost a tighthead at scrum-time to the visitors on the other side of Whakarua Park.
Right-wing Samuel Pearce then intercepted and looked set to score only for a body-length dive by first-five Terangi Fraser to force a knock-on by Pearce five metres from the corner.
The Coast went ahead in the 24th minute. A huge shunt from their pack 10m inside Mid Canterbury territory earned a scrum penalty and the Coast advanced to within 10m of the left corner.
Hooker Joseph Royal found lock Faifili Levave at No.3 and for the second week in a row Royal scored from a lineout drive.
Excellent chase pressure from No.8 Michael Hennings may have contributed to Fraser hitting the post with his conversion attempt.
Jennings’ two-step penalty attempt from 53m on halftime missed and the Coast went into the break 5-3 ahead after a scrappy half in which neither side was able to find their rhythm.
The Coast extended their lead with another lineout drive try after 42 minutes. Royal again found Levave at No.3 and as the maul wheeled openside the big second-row forward drove low to score 10m from the posts.
Fraser’s conversion put the Coast up 12-3.
Seven minutes later, Mid-Canterbury fought desperately to hold out another Coast lineout drive with Royal and Levave heavily involved before Parkes raced down the blindside to score. Fraser’s second successful conversion made it 19-3.
Mid-Canterbury rolled up their sleeves and got a five-pointer in the 65th minute — a try earned through urgency and magical support play, especialy from their loose forward trio.
From a defensive lineout 16m from their goal-line, Duff won the ball at No.2 and monster centre Isireli Maiswini went on a midfield tear down the ground. From 24m out, halfback Liam McCormack went left to Jennings, who sent a 20m pass back to the right. Duff got the ball to Hennings, who linked up with Kaydis Hona. He sent the ball on to Duff, who delivered it to huge lock Vainikolo Halafihi, on debut, and he dashed 23m to score near the right corner.
Jennings could not convert and 19-8 was where the score remained.
It was a noteworthy game for the Sky Blues.
Royal was their Most Valuable Player, left-winger Palmer notched his 50th game for the Coast, reserves Jayden Leiua-Pukia (pro) and Rico Te Kani (lock) debuted and second-rower Ricky Waitoa, made a typically deep impact off the bench.
“The rolling maul was what I was most pleased with,” said Parkes. “All of our tries came from that traditional Coast maul and this was a great way to bounce back — right some wrongs of last Saturday.
“The boys showed a lot of steel in defence. To keep any team under double figures is a good result. The forwards stepped up, with the backs dragging the chain a little, but we know that and it gives us work-ons for next week.
“Our Kaupoi Joe (Royal) spilt a lot of blood for the team in leading from the front.”
Williamson said: “We knew that the Coast would be hard to beat — especially at home because they play with passion and desire that’s hard to match. Both teams had scoring opportunities but they made the most of theirs.”
The win lifted the Coast to sixth on the 12-team table — just behind Poverty Bay on points differential — headed by South Canterbury.
The Coast host competition leaders North Otago from 2pm this Saturday. The “Old Golds” have had two convincing wins so far — 43-24 over Mid Canterbury and 50-3 against Wairarapa Bush.
