Ngati Porou East Coast staved off a late charge by West Coast to win their Heartland Championship rugby opener 23-16 in glorious conditions at Ruatoria's Whakarua Park today.
The home side looked set for a comfortable win only for the southerners to take advantage of East Coast being reduced to 14 men for the last 10 minutes. Flanker Everard Reid, in his Coast debut, was sinbinned for fighting, blotting what was otherwise an impressive performance by the Hawke's Bay-based player.
In that period West Coast scored two tries to earn a losing bonus point.
East Coast created enough chances to put the game away but lacked the finishing touch in a match riddled with mistakes by both sides.
The hosts went ahead in just the fourth minute when Reid finished off in the corner after a quick tap was taken.
West Coast responded through the boot of first five-eighths Corey Deans, who kicked penalties in the 10th and 16th minutes to put the visitors 6-5 ahead.
Irish import John Semple, fresh from playing a season of club rugby in Christchurch and making his East Coast debut at fullback, regained the lead with a penalty.
A powerful run by Reid set up a try to centre TK Moeke in the 35th minute and East Coast went to the break 13-6 ahead.
Semple extended the advantage to 10 with a 51st-minute penalty and what appeared to be the killer blow came in the 68th minute. A West Coast backline attack broke down, Moeke pounced on the loose ball and slipped the ball to first five-eighths Rua Tipoki, who finished his run to the line with a huge dive. Semple's conversion made it 23-6.
Reid's sinbinning followed and West Coast charged home with tries to lock Brad Houston and No 8 Rowan O'Gorman, whose five-pointer was reward for a stand-out performance for his side.
East Coast looked to play enterprising rugby and the potential is clearly there but coach Ngarimu Simpkins and his assistant Tipoki will be looking for them to tidy up the errors that probably cost them a four-try bonus point today.
West Coast were competitive in the forwards but their backs struggled against a sharper opposition line.
Ngati Porou East Coast 23 (Everard Reid, TK Moeke, Rua Tipoki tries; John Semple 2 pens, con) West Coast 16 (Brad Houston, Rowan O'Gorman tries; Corey Deans 2 pens). HT: 13-6.
- Gisborne Herald
