Whakarewarewa won their first Baywide rugby game of 2019 54-21 against Premier newcomers Te Teko.
Baywide Premier newcomers Te Teko could not have asked for a much harder assignment than an away trip to Whakarewarewa in round one.
While the away side were handed a rugby-playing lesson by Whakarewarewa, going down 54-21 at Puarenga Park this afternoon,they will be happy with the perseverance they showed - two late tries making the losing margin a lot more respectable than it might have been.
Whakarewarewa could well be among competition front-runners this season, having added some handy new recruits to an already strong side, and they flew out of the blocks.
The home side had all the possession early and, having worked their way into attacking territory, winger Gareth Cossey crashed over for the opening try. First five RyubynVaipo nailed the sideline conversion to make it 7-0.
Whakarewarewa's second try was scored by Mason Hohepa, on the back of a turnover near halfway, as he stepped inside his mind to cruise in under the posts.
Minutes later Cossey was in for his second. On the back of a rumbling run up the right by hooker Jaya More, they spread the ball left where Cossey had all the space in the world to dive in and score. Vaipo converted both tries and after 15 minutes Whakarewarewa led 21-0.
The home side were dominating possession and territory and midway through the first half Vaipo got across the try line to add to a rapidly growing personal points tally. He converted his own try to make it 28-0.
Whakarewarewa first five Ryubyn Vaipo reaches out to score a try against Te Teko. Photo / Stephen Parker
Whakarewarewa's fifth converted try went to their hooker More, just reward for a busy first half, before Te Teko hit back through Chris Hemi to make the halftime score 35-7.
Te Teko grew into the match towards the end of the first half, having gotten over the shock of the pace of the game in the Premier division, and they carried that momentum into the second half.
Unfortunately, they made lives difficult for themselves when their hooker Dom Te Maipi was yellow carded for a dangerous tackle.
Whakarewarewa made the most of the numerical advantage when South African lock Chris van Leeuwen scored on the back of a perfect offload from second five Matthew Garland. Vaipo kept up his perfect record to convert and extend the lead to 42-7.
Whakarewarewa's Tyson Rimmer came off the bench about 15 minutes into the second half and had an instant impact. He showed great speed and elusiveness to score two quick fire tries on the right edge, one converted and one not, to make Whakarewarewa's lead 54-7.
Whakarewarewa No 8 Doug Edwards gets hit hard in a tackle against Te Teko. Photo / Stephen Parker
As the Whakarewarewa bodies tired and Te Teko grew in confidence, the away side began to see more of the ball in the second half. Their persistence and never-say-die attitude paid off when flanker Malupo Maafu scored two impressive solo tries in the dying minutes to reduce the final deficit to 54-21.
Next week Te Teko host Rotoiti and Whakarewarewa travel to Opotiki.
Baywide rugby results - Saturday, March 23
Premier Opotiki 7 v Mount Maunganui 53 Te Puna 15 v Te Puke 41 Arataki 27 v Tauranga Sports 30 Greerton Marist 22 v Rangiuru 22 Rotoiti 7 v Rangataua 42 Whakarewarewa 54 v Te Teko 21
Premier Development Opotiki 26 v Mount Maunganui 22 Te Puna 30 v Te Puke 27 Arataki 13 v Tauranga Sports 36 Greerton Marist 21 v Rangiuru 43 Rotoiti v Rangataua (Rangataua win by default) Whakarewarewa 31 v Te Teko 7
Division 1 Poroporo 3 v Ruatoki 29 Whakatane Marist 37 v Papamoa 21 Judea 12 v Paroa 15 Kahukura 31 v Murupara 14 Waikite 34 v Reporoa 10 Marist St Michael's 8 v Ngongotaha 12
