Border start Premier strong as Waverley winning streak continues
By Jared Smith
It wasn’t blowing a hurricane this time, but nine months on and Waverley Harvesting Border still holds ascendancy over Wanganui Car Centre Kaierau as the WRFU season kicked off on Saturday.
The replay of the Tasman Tanning Premier grand final saw Border extend their phenomenal winning streak at home on Dallison Park to 16 straight competition games – withstanding two Kaierau flourishes to run out comfortable 38-22 winners.
Trying desperately to secure a four-try bonus point, as with only five Premier teams every point will count for a tilt at a favourable semifinal spot, the game had a scary end for Kaierau as talented reserve back Tawera Puohotaua was knocked unconscious when he dived at the corner flag in a heavy collision with the cover defenders.
Despite Covid and injury keeping a handful of good players away, including losing lock Toby Lennox to a leg strain during the pre-match warm-ups, Border were well served by a physical forward pack, and when Kaierau’s defence had been pulled in, it was the speed of the ball in hand that saw the home side dash to gaps out wide.
Early on, loose passes meant speedsters like the Symes brothers – Harry and Tom – and dynamic No8 Semi Vodosese couldn’t capitalise, while Kaierau veteran winger Karl Pascoe produced several try-saving cover tackles.
But eventually, maestro Craig Clare got his backline humming, with Alekesio Vakarorogo a handful whether at centre or on the wing.
Shifting from prop to flanker due to the reshuffle for Lennox’s injury, Ranato Tikoisolomone was very strong for the first three quarters, while co-captain Angus Middleton contested everything at what become a rather fiery breakdown area.
Lost ball and penalties at the ruck saw Kaierau lose momentum right when they were getting traction and Clare made them pay with his boot – ultimately contributing 23 points.
It was when the game was gone at 31-10 and Kaierau had nothing to lose that they started to execute with great offloads and speed – getting solid service from their bench players who scored all three tries.
Frustrated early on, skipper Ethan Robinson and lock Josh Lane were much more impactful in the final quarter, Border committing a handful of professional fouls and losing Tom Symes and Clare to the sinbin in the latter stages.
“Made pretty hard work of it. First game in, all you can really expect – surprised we got as many points as we did,” said Border coach Cole Baldwin.
All clubs have had a disjointed preseason due to Covid unavailability and some injuries.
“Still having guys in and out, all the time, so struggling to get continuity, so you’ll be seeing that out on the field,” said Baldwin.
“Give us another month and I think we’ll be close to where we want to be.”
As well as their usual X-factor players, Border is blooding a few youngsters who acquitted themselves nicely.
“They’re only straight out of school – the two Logan [Kingi and Mitchell] boys are doing really well, and Blake [Mitchell]’s come back after an injury, so it was good to give him some decent minutes.
“They’re good kids, and they’re prepared to learn and wanting to be successful.”
It was not the start the new Kaierau coaching team of Tony McBride and Te Ahu Teki wanted, the pair having experienced a lot of success previously at WRFU age grade representative level.
Understandably, McBride’s most pressing concern after the game was the wellbeing of Puohotaua, who was transported from Waverley by ambulance, having only returned to rugby this year after a concussion in early 2021.
However, the co-coach acknowledged his side had been drawn in to playing Border’s game – even at the end with two Border backs sinbinned, they tried barging through the forwards instead of working towards the space.
“We were lacking possession, and part of that was just because we making unforced errors at the breakdown, perhaps not adjusting to the new rules.
“We had a talk about it at halftime and we revisited some of those things we were working on at training – encouraged them to lift intensity to compensate for the flatness of the first half.
“We added a few impact players, because we have a lot of faith in our club this year – both the Prems and Senior teams – and they really added to the game,” McBride added.
“A few missed tackles was the difference. A few guys were injured as well and playing on injuries that they didn’t communicate to us during the game – that’s another thing we’re going to have to revisit.”
Getting the better of territory, with Vodosese only denied a try by a diving Pascoe, Border received a penalty in front and Clare slotted it in the 10th minute.
An attacking bomb followed by a pair of penalties finally saw Kaierau get some momentum for Robinson to kick an equaliser four minutes later, but it didn’t last as after Clare managed to save one of the loose passes his backs were throwing, Border were in position for another penalty kick, which the veteran slotted on a difficult angle.
After lock Jack Hodges stole a Kaierau throw-in, Clare put second-five Andy Hamilton through the gap and then got the ball back, and this time Pascoe could not get across to save the day.
Kaierau began to put together some sustained attack, but again, penalties let Border piggy-back up the field, the last one being for a high tackle, with Clare having another straight-forward penalty kick, which he followed up with his fourth right on halftime for 17-3.
Lifting after the break, Kaierau started to get the offloads working, although a few went down as well, and eventually held Border in their own 22m long enough to start rumbling through the pack, with reserve prop Tai Pulemagafa brushing the paint after burrowing off the ruck for 17-10.
But Kaierau had expended a lot of energy getting back within striking distance, and Border coolly lifted another gear to score back-to-back tries in the next five minutes.
Tom Symes cut through out wide and then headed back towards the posts where Pascoe stopped him, but Border swiftly shifted to Vodosese, who needed four tacklers to stop him ranging at the far corner.
Border effortlessly fired two long passes right across to the other corner and Vakarorogo dove across, with Clare adding a dagger with his conversion from the sideline
Border cleared the kickoff and then forced a ruck turnover, with halfback Tyrone Albert spotting the empty backfield and chip kicking for a motoring Vodosese to win the foot-race beside the posts for 31-10.
Finally galvanised, while Border started to slow down a little, Kaierau began to make their passes stick and get quicker recycles from the breakdown before defenders arrived en masse.
They spread both sides of the 22m and finally the gap opened up for reserve Stu Brosnahan to run off and score.
After Symes was sinbinned for knocking a pass down following Kaierau first-five Anthony Sellers burst, Kaierau drove from the lineout, and then a loose pass to Rehimana Meihana meant the ball was contested instead of him being tackled, so after wrenching it free he had the space to dash under the posts.
At 31-22 with 11 minutes left, Kaierau had hope, but Clare shut the door on that as after Hodges made a strong carry down the right flank, the former Highlander charged at a gap on the left, finding fullback Anaru Haerewa back inside to run under the posts.
However, Clare was soon to depart after never getting back onside to tackle Robinson following a quick penalty tap, and Kaierau were a bit unlucky when it appeared lock Josefa Rokotakala had got downward pressure in going at the tryline, only to be ruled lost forward without a clear sighting.
Kaierau came straight back, but the game ended on a scary note with Puohotaua’s injury.
Border 38 (C Clare, A Vakarorogo, S Vodosese, A Haerewa tries; Clare 4 pen, 3 con) bt Kaierau 22 (F Pulemagafa, S Brosnahan, R Meihana tries; E Robinson pen, 2 con). HT: 17-3.
WHANGANUI RUGBY RESULTS 2022 – APRIL 23
*PROVISIONAL Results
Tasman Tanning championship, Round 1 –
Premier –
At Spriggens Park (Grand Hotel Challenge Shield) – Byford’s Readimix Taihape 38 (Beau Walker, Tyler Rogers-Holden, Luke Whale, Gabriel Hakaraia, Roman Tutauha tries, penalty try, Dane Whale 3 con) beat Dave Hoskin Carriers Marist 16 (Jack O’Leary, Ioane Hough-Aki tries, Daniel Kauika 2 pen). HT: 16-10 Marist.
At Dallison Park – Waverley Harvesting Border 38 (Craig Clare, Alekesio Vakarorogo ,Anaru Haerewa Semi Vodosese tries, Clare 4 pen, 3 con) beat Wanganui Car Centre Kaierau 22 (Emana Heihana, Faatuatua Ezra, Tai Pulemagafa tries, Ethan Robinson pen, 2 con). HT: 14-3 Border.
Bye – Settlers Honey Ngamatapouri.
Ngamatapouri Round 1 Bye
Senior –
Country Group –
At Marton Park (Stihl Shop Wanganui Challenge Shield) Speirs Food Marton 34 beat Utiku OB 12. HT: 14-0.
At Hunterville Domain – Kelso Hunterville 22 beat Bennett’s Taihape 14. HT:15-9.
At Rochfort Park – Ruapehu beat Harvey Round Motors Ratana by default.
Town Group –
At Spriggens Park – Ali Arc Logistics – DNA Kennels Marist Celtic 41 beat Black Bull Liqour Pirates 19. HT: 15-0 Celtic.
At Kaierau Country Club – Gemini Pepper Construction Kaierau 19 beat McCrea Scanning Counties 3.HT: 7-3.
At Dallison Park – Border beat Marist Buffalo’s by default.
