Waitete’s Sam Wilson runs the ball downfield against Taupō Sports at Owen Delany Park. Photo Dan Tasker
Three North King Country rugby clubs have started the King Country Club rugby competition in perfect fashion – with wins.
A super round was played in Taupō last Saturday to support and raise awareness of mental health and wellbeing in the community.
Ten teams lined up for the clashes at Owen Delany Park with some interesting matches taking shape.
Taupō Sports, the competition’s defending champions, started strongly picking up a 40-5 victory over an understrength Waitete team while last year’s beaten finalists Piopio fell to Tongariro United, 39-22.
Taumarunui Districts claimed one over Kio Kio United in what was an entertaining battle, running out 35-22 victors.
Taumarunui Eeels knocked over Bush United 19-5 and Waitomo picked up a well-deserved win, 24-19, over Taupō Marist.
Waitomo’s match with Taupō Marist was one of the more exciting affairs of the weekend as the two teams have had a strong rivalry over the past few seasons with wins being shared.
The green-and-blacks played into a stiff breeze for the opening half and thanks to hooker Sean Wanden, and fellow front rowers Torrin Campbell and Rangi Mulligan-Green, they were able to assert some ascendancy up front.
Waitomo opened the scoring through Wanden, who squeezed through a small gap to score, which first five Stormy McCarthy converted.
He added a penalty soon after and then winger Brock Kawhena dotted down out wide to give Waitomo a 15-0 lead.
Marist replied with a try of their own, before McCarthy kicked a 45-metre penalty to put them ahead 18-7, however, Marist found their way across the chalk minutes later.
A couple more penalties saw them ahead 24-14 before Marist scored on fulltime.
Halfback Vavao Afemai was a standout across the park, while Jaide Barlow, Karne Barlow, Sam Trangmar and Leon Green were all superb.
Waitete’s best were prop Sam Wilson, Ngamira Kopa, Stafford Ormsby, and new recruit Diego Rangi.
Piopio’s best was King Country number 8 Kaleb Foote as they were out flanked by Tongariro.
Nathaniel Smith, Leveson Gower, Jesse Closter and Anaru Etana were superb for Districts in their clash, while Bruce Ahlers, Jeff Peek, Lachlan van der Pasch and Livai Toofohe showed Ki Kio United will take some beating this year.
Callum Blaney, Josef Allen and hard-running second five Tyrone Pakau helped the Eels overcome Bush United with Zachary Wana, Harry Pakenham, Heath Barnsdall and Delane Bell putting in en-couraging efforts for United.
This week, with Easter, games have been moved forward a couple of days.
Kio Kio United are hosting Taumarunui Eels tonight at 7.30pm in a game that honors Ōtorohanga’s Dakota Frazer who died in tragic circumstances last year. She has a brother in the home side.
Players will wear black armbands and observe a minute’s silence in her honour.
Piopio are welcoming Waitete to the Domain for a 7pm kick off tonight, while Friday’s action kicking off at 2.30pm sees Bush United play host to Waitomo at Benneydale Domain and Taumarunui Districts travel to Taupō for a second week to battle Tongariro.
