League: Te Arawa fall at final hurdle

Te Arawa forward Pomare Pirini (centre) in action against He Waka Eke Noa. Photo / Andrew Warner

Te Arawa have fallen one game short of taking the Waka division of the Maori National Rugby League Tournament.

They lost to Ngati Umutahi 14-6 in a hard-fought battle at Puketawhero Park yesterday.

In front of more than 3000 spectators the two sides smashed and crashed their way through 60 minutes of hard rugby.

Umutahi have been absent from the tournament for about a decade but were on fire right from the start using their giant props Hammond and Charles Matua as battering rams on the Te Arawa defence. At more than 120kgs the two props would hit-up a piece from the kick off then be subbed until Umutahi needed them to bring the ball out of their own quarter.

Te Arawa were guilty of giving away possession early in their tackle count and struggled to get back-to-back sets.

The first 30 minutes resulted in only one try to Umutahi. Thanks to a quick play of the ball the visitors got on the outside of Te Arawa's defence and scooted 60m to score a converted try.

Umutahi scored again less than a minute after the break as Te Arawa struggled to hold on to the ball.

When the home side did manage to string some sets together they scored a great individual try to Bully Tahuriorangi. It was converted, bringing Te Arawa within four points, but the visitors were in again soon after.

In the other main final of the day Auckland beat Te Mahurihuri 34-14.

Scorers: Umutahi 14 (R Bristow, C Perenara, W Stowers tries; W Stowers 1 con) Te Arawa 6 (B Tahuriorangi try; D Hunuhun-Biddle 1 con) Halftime: 6-0