The first game of the season where the coaching staff could almost relax before the 80th minute.  With most every game this season going down to the wire, one way or the other, Whangamata comfortably dispatched cellar dwellers Waihou on Saturday.

While comfortable on the scoreboard 38-21, it was a little tougher than that wide margin would suggest, with Waihou closing to 9-16 shortly after the halftime break.  However, Whangamata was always in control, Waihou never really looked like scoring a try while the game was in the balance, with Whangamata's solid defence being impregnable.

Two late tries to Waihou in the last ten minutes really only being due to Whangamata playing 'grab-fanny football' and trying some pretty outlandish stuff, that obviously, didn't work.  That will need to be put away before next weeks vital clash with Waihi, a team whose two late tries in round one saw them beat the red 'n' whites.

A good win though, but as per usual, plenty to work on!  Very messy at times at the scrum, where concentration levels seem to slip from time to time, with the eight demolishing Waihou in one scrum, and then being demolished in the next themselves.  But when the eight all had their minds on the job, they had the wood on Waihou.  The lineouts went well, with the Waihou set up and rhythms picked up early and combated nicely, while Whangamata's ball was provided by the safe hands of Mike Cunningham, Gene Waller and spring healed flanker Jerry Cox.

The backline looked dangerous all the time too, with fullback Chris Eldar adding thrust and breaking the line constantly.  It would be good to see the big fella just pin his ears back at times, being the big unit that he is makes him very tough to pull down.  Centre David Bunyan was at his lethal best too, rewarded with two fine tries, although the second needed to be scored, as outside him, unmarked he had the triple towers of Gene Waller, Mike Cunningham and Steve Trebilco.  With Waller already having scored a try though, the correct choice was made, as Waller with a double (which would also double his career scoring) would have been impossible to keep quiet...!!  Adam Brien at second five had his best game in a while too, busting the line time and time again with some strong direct running that always troubled the Waihou defence.

Waihi next week at Waihi, see you at the game as the might Red 'n' Whites look to avenge the first round 24-27 loss.

Whangamata 38 (D Bunyan 2, G Waller, K TeHuia, J Joslin, P Maisey tries; Maisey 4 conversions).
Waihou 21 (2 tries, conversion, 3 penalties).

the match in photos