Captain Haerewa is a solid all-round player and a fine goal-kicker, converting three of their four tries — Samupo nailed the other and scored two tries — in a 28-10 win against Ruatoria City on Saturday.
Big lock Genesis Raukawa and first-five Whakarae Henare were the other Tokararangi players to score at home in a physical, competitive outing.
The hosts led 14-10 at halftime. City skipper and No.8 Jack Richardson — a player with a big engine — scored their try and lock Nathaniel Fox kicked a penalty and a conversion.
Tokararangi’s forward pack did a good job at set-pieces and used their size well.
That Raukawa and hard-tackling, fearsome fetcher Rawiri Ngarimu won their respective teams’ Most Valuable Player honours speaks to the fact forwards have a large say as to who comes out on top, or at least comes close.
Hicks Bay, too, are often noted for the rugged, powerful play of their pack — as opposed to fancy footwork — but against Waima they produced the goods up front and out wide.
The Aaron King and Warren Henderson-coached Hicks Bay, at home, beat Waima 47-7 after leading 26-7 at the break.
On a great day conditions-wise and in front of a fair crowd of close to 150, the locals ran in seven tries at Kawakawa Mai Tawhiti at Wharekahika. Big first five-eighth Terangi Fraser scored twice. His presence and the options he gives them are a magnificent boost for one of the hardest-working clubs.
King was pleased for his team and community.
“The boys played with passion. Terangi, our MVP, gave us direction and confidence,” he said. “The boys are loving it and everybody’s happy just to have rugby back.”
King’s opposite Lisa Muller knows her team in progress are mustering true grit against the competition’s established teams.
“We’re growing,” she said. “Our forwards played strongly in a scrappy game but we’ve still got things to work on. With the ball in hand, we’re dangerous but Terangi and their centre, Shaun Murtagh, made us work hard in defence.
“Our centre and MVP Lex Karauria tackled strongly.”
Halfback Les Te Reo’s first-half try — he went hard through would-be tacklers to dot down under the crossbar — was a moment to savour.
Fullback Jason Babbington converted the try.
Hirini Delamere has long been a huge part of Tihirau Victory Club’s tight five.
And the man who started the 2017 grand final at lock — and accordingly was a member of the first side from Cape Runaway to win the title — is no less influential at tighthead prop.
The scrum-anchor scored a hat-trick of tries in their 47-12 win at home against Waiapu.
The Awa, or River, thoroughly deserved the superb tries that they scored through athletic lock Richard Green and talented halfback Hamuera Moana-Baker, who also landed a conversion, but TVC were in sparkling form.
Delamere and another hero of their 2017 final pack —MVP and No.8 Hoani Te Moana — were two of TVC’s best contributors.
Green, Te Moana’s opposite and Waiapu captain Will Bolingford and the Awa’s MVP lock Rico Te Kani also played good, hard rugby
Flanker Moana Mato, who played at second-five in TVC’s title win six years ago, said: “The boys had to bounce back from the 15-37 defeat to Hikurangi (in Week and we did that.
“Our support play was exceptional and everyone, including our bench, did the job. We fought with fire in our belly and ice in our minds.
“It was a rematch of last year’s final (won 39-17 by TVC at home), and we delivered.”
Ngāti Porou East Coast men’s club rugby
Hicks Bay 47 (Te Rangi Fraser 2, Frank Taiapa, Anton King, Manahi Brooking, Sean Murtagh, Wiremu King-Taufa tries; Fraser con, Irie Noanoa 5 con)
Waima 7 (Les Te Reo try; Jason Babbington con).
HT: 26-7 Hicks Bay.
Tokararangi 28 (Pamona Samupo 2, Genesis Raukawa, Whakarae Henare tries; Samupo con, Rapata Haerewa 3 con)
Ruatoria City 10 (Jack Richardson try; Nathaniel Fox con, pen).
HT: 14-10 Tokararangi.
Tihirau Victory Club 47 (Hirini Delamere 3, Frank Henderson, Kuhu Haweti, Floyd Haerewa, Joseph Roberts, Joey Ford tries; Delamere con, Verdon Bartlett con, Benny Haerewa pen)
Waiapu 12 (Hamuera Moana-Baker, Richard Green tries; Moana-Baker con).
HT: 17-0 Tihirau Victory Club.
Most Valuable Players: Terangi Fraser (Hicks Bay), Lex Karauria (Waima), Genesis Raukawa (Tokararangi), Rawiri Ngarimu (Ruatoria City), Hoani Te Moana (Tihirau Victory Club), Rico Te Kani (Pango Productions Waiapu).
NPEC women’s club rugby
Hicks Bay 5 (Kelly Brock try)
Waima 29 (Porky Kahaki, Sammy Moana, Sheryl Tuari, Shaniqua Casey tries, penalty try; Tuari con).
HT: 5-0 Waima.
Tihirau Victory Club 22 (Dane-a Kopa 3, Krimson Moko tries; Shirley Mullany-Mato con)
Waiapu 14 (Maia Rickard, Forne Burkin tries; Danielle Nepe 2 con).
HT: 5-all.
Most Valuable Players:
Te Puia Rangihuna (Hicks Bay), Delta Te Rauna (Waima), Alizay Grant (Tihirau Victory Club), Maia Rickard (Waiapu).
