League: Sharks triumph after disallowed try

Taupo had this attempt at a try disallowed on Saturday against Pacific, which proved a big moment in the Nines final. Pictured (from left) Pacific's Yannis Mea, Brian Turia and Jeremy Suilepa, and Phoenix's Kayne Minhinnick

The Pacific Sharks have defended their Bay of Plenty Nines title in Rotorua - but not without some late controversy in the final.

Pacific (Tokoroa) defeated Taupo Phoenix 10-8 in the premier final of the nines tournament on Saturday.

The tournament is held annually at Puketawhero Park and is a final hit-out for local clubs before the season gets under way.

With the premier final almost up on Saturday, Taupo had a chance to take the lead but had a try disallowed for losing the ball over the tryline.

The picture on the right would argue it should have been awarded a try, but nonetheless it was a difficult decision for the referee to make on the spot. With no such thing as video referrals at club level, Taupo simply had to take the decision on the chin.

"I couldn't really see it from where we were [on the sideline] but after hearing that - how close it was - it is a bit of a bugger," Taupo coach Craig Hiha said. But he saw plenty of good signs from his team during the tournament and they were hoping for a big season.

"We have a lot of young guys that have come up through the under-17s. We actually have really good numbers this year." He said quite a few experienced players were missing on Saturday but would be back for the season opener in two weeks.

Pacific co-coach Neville Takiri said it was a great result to win the premier nines final again this year, as well as the reserve grade title on Saturday.

"Yea, we are pretty stoked with the result. But big ups to Taupo because they made us really work for it and we had to dig deep."

Pikiao and Ngongotaha also competed in the premier division. Mangakino defeated Forestland 14-8 in the division one final on Saturday and Pacific reserves defeated a valiant Central (Rotorua) side 12-10 in the reserve grade final.

In the premier final, Taupo held an 8-0 lead during the second half but Pacific scored two tries towards the end with Brian Turia converting his own try for Pacific which proved the difference.

-Premier final: Pacific Sharks 10 (Brian Turia, Cassius Dunn-Read tries; Turia con) defeated Taupo Phoenix 8 (Ayden Inglis, Kayne Minhinnick tries).