Rugby league: Historic win for Bridge Pa

HISTORY MAKERS: Bridge Pa rugby league players and supporters celebrate their first Hawke's Bay premier title on Saturday. PHOTO/WARREN BUCKLAND

BRIDGE PA premier rugby league team coach Ihaka Waerea admitted to being "proud as" and he had every right to be on Saturday afternoon.

A year after winning Hawke's Bay's reserve grade championship, Bridge Pa won the premier title for the first time with a 36-20 win against Omahu Huia at Bill Mathewson Park, Hastings. This was the first time Bridge Pa had won the title.

"It was a top team effort and our forwards really stepped up,' Waerea said.

The victory was also an ideal rehearsal for Bridge Pa's first crack at the national Maori tournament, which will be played in Wainuiomata during Labour Weekend. Bridge Pa will also be strengthened by the availability of several rep rugby players who weren't eligible for Saturday's final.

To Omahu's credit they did well to take an early 8-0 lead and hold Bridge Pa out until the 27th minute. However once Bridge Pa's big forwards, including Rana Huata and Ramiha Smiler, warmed up and experienced hooker Colin Hokianga began dictating terms from dummy half Omahu's defensive systems were splintered regularly and Waerea's troops led 16-8 at halftime.

Thirteen minutes into the second half Bridge Pa led 24-8. The game became heated as the fourth quarter ticked in and both coaches ran on to the field to help referee Darren Sage, who did a superb job with the whistle, calm the players down.

Captain and centre Jeston Craig and inside back Taniera Miratana were busy in the Bridge Pa backline.

"We set a goal at the start of the season to make the final. We got there and we won it," Craig said, much to the delight of the side's supporters as he collected the trophy.

"Not enough muscle and we're too young at the moment," Omahu Huia coach Aki Renata lamented.

His forwards were definitely out muscled and paid the price for being too individualistic. They would have been better running in pairs more at their bigger opponents and using the offload when in their attacking zone.

It wasn't to be for Lisa Ropiha (left) and Deidre Hakopa.

Secondrower Teina Huia impressed with his workrate and has just as much potential in this code as he does in union. Experienced Omahu centre Cory Vainu made the most of his limited opportunities and deserved his late try.

Kahuranaki were convincing winners of the reserve grade final with a 48-12 victory over Clive.

MAC completed a union-league double for the season with a 30-22 win over Tamatea in the women's final. Like the union side, the league team was unbeaten during the season and it was the first time MAC had won both titles.

Saturday's MAC team was coached by former Unicorns player and coach Alan Mason in his first coaching stint since returning from Australia. It wasn't the result Tamatea stalwart Deidre Hakopa deserved in her 21st season with the team.

Hakopa's teammate Lisa Ropiha has completed 19 seasons with the side.