It wasn’t pretty, it certainly wasn’t flashy, but it was was entertaining, nail biting, riveting, and ultimately, winning rugby produced by Whangamata in front of a large and vocal home crowd on Saturday

In a match where the lead changed hands with each score, the result was anybodies through to the final few minutes. But when Whangamata took the lead for the third and ultimately final time, 17-15 through an unstoppable James Lovegrove try. From there though, the Whangamata crowd, in full voice, carried the red and whites through to the final whistle. The win puts Whangamata into the top four, on equal points with Thames, but by virtue of the win, they hold the 4^th semi final spot – for now.

While the match was a scrappy stop-start affair, it was bound to be, with the match carrying the hopes of both teams for the remainder of the season. It was played with an intensity that would have done a final proud, neither side backing down an inch. It was an absorbing rugby encounter, with both teams gaining the upper hand at times, but neither dominating.

It was Whangamata’s ferocious defence that carried the day, with Thames piling on the pressure in the second spell, but the line speed of the defending red and whites, and the passion to make the breakdown, to hunger to make the tackle and spoil the Thames ball being too much for the visitors. A series of scrums as halftime approached also typified the controlled aggression of the Whangamata eight, with the Thames scrum being buckled and their front row being lifted time and time again in a contest of brute strength – a physiological as well as a physical battle won.

Whangamata’s points came from a double to number eight Lovegrove, the first after another series of scrums on the Thames line earlier in the match, after first disrupting the Thames scrum to win the feed, and the second from a tap penalty five yards from the line and an unstoppable surge to the line. First five Pete Maisey’s trusty boot provided the remainder, two conversions and a booming penalty goal.

Huge matches from the pack as a unit, but mention must be made of the tireless work of openside flanker Jerry Cox, an 80 minute effort of guts and commitment, lock Gene Waller, at his disruptive best at the breakdowns, and veteran prop Jason Hutt at loosehead, who gave Thames Valley rep Barton Thompson a torrid time at the scrum.

Out wide the versatile Riki Tipene, on the wing for this match after deputising at halfback the previous three weeks was all action, his kick and chase leading to the penalty from which the match winning try was scored from. David Bunyan and Adam Brien were always dangerous in the midfield, and BJ Tohaia, returned from injury at halfback was at his probing best close to the rucks and mauls.

This Saturday is another home game, against Waihou, 2:00pm. The lucky programme draw was not struck again, so get to the game, get your programme, and during the after match, speeches, you could walk away $450 richer.

Whangamata 17 (James Lovergrove 2 tries; Pete Maisey 2 conversions, penalty).
Thames 15 (2 tries, conversion, penalty).

the match in photos