Round 5 (part 2), Silcock Shield, complied by Tighthead Ted and Whispering Will:
The second half of the split round unfolded over the last three days. Thursday seeing the Paeroa Green Machine, under lights, take home the Buck Duck Cup in their clash with the Hauraki North Blue Bulls, and Saturday, in blazing sunlight and factor 15 suntan oil, Mercury Bay and Whangamata battled out a draw in Whitianga.PAEROA v HAURAKI NORTH
Paeroa Domain, referee: S Watts.
On a cold, dewy, windless night, which was a great advertisement for daytime rugby, the mighty Green Machine that is Paeroa rugby in 2024 rolled on. Hauraki North, struggling
for results in 2024, after making the final in 2023, battled on gamely as they have done all season, giving Paeroa a real ‘Fright Night’ experience.
It may have been the conditions, it may have been Paeroa taking North too lightly, but the match turned into trench warfare, with gains measured in inches, and sweeping backline movements few and far between, but the big win that most expected (bar the North faithful), never arrived, and with North leading 7-5 after half an hour, there would have been a fair few Paeroa fans puckering.
But a cheeky Hendrix Beazley try with five minutes to go in the half put the Green machine back in front – a debatable score perhaps, a pick and go from a ruck when perhaps Beazley was in front of the ball – but a score none the less, and Paeroa were in
front again, 12-7, and did not relinquish the lead.
Both teams lineouts suffered in the first spell, looking like the hookers had only been introduced to their jumpers ten minutes before kickoff at times; scrums were messy, and ball security a vicious rumour that all had heard about, but no one was practicing. The
Paeroa forward pack was perhaps gaining a little ascendancy, but it was a pretty equal and dour struggle.
The second 40 became a tense affair, as neither side could bust open the others defence, and the game remained wide open. North dominated the middle period of the spell, with halfback Matty Fisher the ring master, always dangerous with sniping runs,
relishing the close quarter combat. He was denied what could easily have been a penalty try when hit with a double high tackle – but not to be, a scoreline of 14-12 to the Blue Bulls with ten to go would certainly have changed things up.
Paeroa in the last ten lifted their intensity, centre Taimua Malielegaoi started to make inroads into the North defence, and their big forwards started to punch holes close in.
With time almost up on an invisible clock, William Faasavalu finally crashed over from close range, with the try duly converted by Nathan Emery, and a final score of 19-7.
North, to a man, tackled and harried and chased anything that moved in green as they almost tore up the form guide in this match. Leading the way was captain Jordan Matson, livewire halfback Matty Fisher, and intercept try scorer Fraser Anderson.
Paeroa had yeoman service from Oneone Faaf’ou at number eight, rampaging prop Bryson Williams and Faasavalu added impetus from the pine. Malielegaoi was the pick of the backs in a match made for the low numbered shirts.
Paeroa: 19 (O Siosio, H Beazley, W Faasavalu tries; N Emery 2 conversions) beat Hauraki North: 7 (F Anderson try; E Fiavaai conversion). HT: 12-7.
MERCURY BAY v WHANGAMATA
Lyon Park, Whitianga, referee: R Rogers.
It was sixth versus seventh as coastal rivals Whangamata and Mercury Bay went down to the wire in Whitianga. The clear sky and light wind was an open invitation for both teams to play the expansive rugby their clubs are historically known for, but it was in the
forwards where this game was largely played.
The home team had all the territory and possession after Whangamata failed to secure the opening kick off and then spent the next ten minutes defending wave after wave of Mercury Bay attack. But their defence held strong and soon it was their turn to camp in the Marlins’ half. Like Whangamata, Mercury Bay didn’t let their opposition through and it was evident by the physicality that they were up for the contest.
With both teams lineouts misfiring at times it was tough to exert any constant pressure for either pack. The deadlock however, was broken on the 30 minute mark when a series of penalties got Mercury Bay deep in the Red ‘n’ White 22 and, after their rolling maul fell short of the line, they patiently recycled the ball until midfielder Dane Mathew made it over the line. The final act of the first half was a TJ Wise penalty for Whangamata to make it 7-3.
The opening half of the second stanza was marked by a step up in physicality and both teams trying to open the game up. Mercury Bay had a scoring opportunity thwarted after a lovely left foot step from midfielder Charlie Best broke the Whangamata line, but his team couldn’t capitalise as Whangamata stole the ball a few phases later.
Irishman Finn McCall was injected into the game for Whangamata after 45 minutes and his impact was immediately felt. Throughout the second half and, as Whangamata were picking and going near the Mercury Bay try line, he stretched out and scored to make it 10-7 with 15 to play.
Two indiscretions in kickable areas handed the lead back to Mercury Bay and first-five Connor Curran slotted both penalties. Whangamata levelled it up with a penalty of their own and then had the chance to snatch it with a penalty on full time. The kick from out wide sailed just past the right upright and the match ended in a 13 all draw, meaning that Whangamata retained the Coastal Shield.
The two standouts from the match were the aforementioned McCall and Best. Mercury Bay were also well served by their half-back Connor McCauley whose crisp passing put his team on the front foot and whose box kicks were tough for Whangamata to defuse.
Try scorer Mathew and Adam Clauge also shone for the home team. For Whangamata, Ben Laurie was tireless in his carries and regularly got over the gain line against a confrontational Mercury Bay pack, he was well supported by Jake Barfoot and Tim Bond.
Mercury Bay: 13 (D Mathew try; C Curren conversion, 2 penalties) drew with Whangamata: 13 (F McCall try; TJ Wise conversion, 2 penalties). HT: 7-3.
SENIOR B RESULTS | Round 5
Coromandel, 56, beat Waihi, 0.
Waihou, 31, beat Ngata, 20.
Whangamata, 10, lost to COBRAS, 46.
Thames won by default over Mercury Bay.
Hauraki North – bye.
WOMENS
Waitete, 22, lost to Hauraki North, 26.
UNDER 21
Pirongia, 37, beat Rugby United, 12.
