Whakarewarewa No 8 Pauli Asaeli was at his rampaging best against Greerton. Photo / Stephen Parker
Whakarewarewa No 8 Pauli Asaeli was at his rampaging best against Greerton. Photo / Stephen Parker
When Whakarewarewa hosted Greerton the conditions were more suited to snorkel and flippers than a pair of rugby boots.
Water bottles were used to get mud out of eyes more often than to drink from and the slippery conditions made the players look like drunk ice skaters at times. But that did not stop them producing some entertaining footy with Greerton coming out 23-16 winners.
Greerton opened the scoring when winger Kody McGovern read the play well to snatch an intercept near halfway and race away to score under the posts.
Whakarewarewa kicked a penalty to reduce the deficit to 3-7 before going back on the attack on the back of several rampaging runs from No 8 Pauli Asaeli. The former Bay of Plenty Steamer is returning to rugby this year after about 10 years away from the game. The break has not slowed him down - he produced 80 minutes of bone-crunching highlights on Saturday, with and without the ball.
After absorbing a period of pressure, Greerton worked their way up field and kicked a penalty to lead 10-3.
Knowing every point would count in trying conditions, Whakarewarewa kicked another penalty shortly before halftime to trail 10-6 at the break. They kicked another early in the second half and at 10-9 to Greerton it was anyone's game.
Ten minutes into the second half, Asaeli was forced to take a 10-minute breather after a yellow card for a high tackle. Greerton kicked the resulting penalty to lead 13-9.
The 14 men of Whakarewarewa threw their bodies on the line to prevent any further damage while Asaeli was off the field, but with about 15 minutes left to play Greerton second five Josh Evemy crashed over to make it 18-9.
Whakarewarewa's Matthew Garland is hit hard in a tackle against Greerton. Photo / Stephen Parker
Whakarewarewa did not let the try get them down and piled pressure on their opposition looking to get back in the game. They had a scrum inside the Greerton 22m, shifted the ball inside and centre Matt Garland showed great strength to score under the posts. The try was converted and with nine minutes left to play Whakarewarewa were within touch of a comeback as they trailed 18-16.
It was not to be for the home side, however, as Greerton sealed the 23-16 victory through a try to hooker Adam Duhig on the brink of fulltime.
Greerton coach Ryan Dunnett said his side's focus, in "trying conditions", was to win the territory battle.
"Territory is more important than possession, I'm happy with the way we fronted up defensively too."
It was Greerton's fifth win in a row and further secures their spot in the top eight.
"I don't think the club's ever done five in a row. [The key is] just working hard, the boys are fit and wanting to play for each other. It's been good."
Whakarewarewa coach Boxer Smith described the game as "good solid wet weather rugby".
"Both teams played well to the conditions, it's just Greerton executed a little bit better than us, but it was a good clash."
Smith said Asaeli had brought a lot to the side this season.
"He's probably the most devastating runner of the ball in the Bay of Plenty at the moment. It cost him 10 in the bin, but I just thought it was an aggressive tackle, I didn't think he hit him high."
Farmlands Co-operative Baywide Premier Tauranga Sports 107 v Whakatane Marist 10 Mount Maunganui 15 v Ngongotaha 3 Rangataua 81 v Paroa 3 Greerton Marist 23 v Whakarewarewa 16 Te Puke Sports 22 v Rotoiti 10 Te Puna 53 v Arataki 0
Farmlands Co-operative Baywide Premier Development Tauranga Sports 26 v Whakatane Marist 0 Mount Maunganui 22 v Ngongotaha 22 Rangataua v Paroa - Rangataua win by default Greerton Marist 10 v Whakarewarewa 0 Te Puke Sports 52 v Rotoiti 12 Te Puna 39 v Arataki 0
Farmlands Co-operative Baywide Division One Judea 36 v Waimana 10 Marist St Michael's 18 v Ruatoki 17 Poroporo 18 v Murupara 0 Te Teko 41 v Kahukura 14 Rangiuru 48 v Waikite 0 Opotiki 39 v Papamoa 7
Central Bay of Plenty Senior Reserves Reporoa A 47 v Waikite 0 Taupo v Reporoa B - No result received Marist St Michael's 26 v Eastern Pirates 19
Eastern Bay of Plenty Senior Reserves Matata 36 v Ruatoki 5 Edgecumbe 30 v Opotiki 0
