The Whangamata seniors suffered their third loss of the season in a match where they were leading heading into the final ten minutes of the game.  This time it was the return fixture with last season final losers Paeroa West.  Leading 23-21 with eight to go, two late penalties saw the West side snatch the win 27-23 in an entertaining, and at times brutal rugby match.

NOt to say that Whangamata led from start to almost finish though, as West jumped to an 8-0 lead, before Whangmata came back to lead 10-8, and then to trail again 18-10 as West scored a couple of tries.  However, just before the half hooker Tommy Smith crashed over for his second try of the match to see the home side trailing by 1, 17-18.

The lead then see-sawed through the opening minutes of the second half, Whangamata, through the reliable boot of Pete Maisey, taking the lead 20-18, before slipping behind again, and shortly after, another goal taking the lead back, 23-21.  The match then remained that way with some desperate defence keeping West at bay, until the fateful final eight minutes.

It was a very disappointing loss, with the side doing enough to win despite being outflanked by a quick tap, a single pass and the West winger running in a try - real school boy stuff that has no place in senior rugby - especially when it has happened before this season.  Whangamata's kicking game in general play was terrible too, with too many kicks going no where near there intended areas and putting huge pressure on the defence.  The good news is though, the defence was up to the task with some last ditch tackling saving the day time and again.

There were many good points too, the main one being that the team has certainly earned the respect of opposing teams now - if West had come in with the same attitude they had in the first round to this game, they would have lost by 40 points.  They were up for this fixture, and came within a few crucial decisiions of losing.  Something Whangamata can be proud of, but certainly something that needs to be worked on - these close losses must be turned around if trophies are to be added to the cabinet at the end of the season.

It was a welcome return to top form too for a few of the players.  Lock Gene Waller had his best game this season in the red and white.  Not only dominating at lineout time, as is expected from the lanky lock forward, but also a powerful presence around the field with some great support runs with ball in hand.  English hooker Tommy Smith also had his best game to date, with two close quarter tries, proving very hard to pull down close to the line.  Kurt Jacobs put in his weekly 80 minutes of toil too, and is featuring more with ball in hand as the weeks go by, playing some very strong rugby and must also be pushing hard for Valley honours.

Pete Maisey added a string to his bow also, unleashing his running game against the West backline.  He made some huge inroads and linked well with his support players.  The Whangamata backline just got more dangerous.  Regular wing Riki Tipene filled in for the injured BJ Tohaia at halfback and had a strong game also, and for two weeks running flanker Kevin TeHuia at second five was more than solid in the midfield.

In his first game back for the season big number 8 James Lovegrove added some punch and go forward off the bench, as did loosie Paki Solomon.

It was sad to see an expected season ending injury to prop forward Harding Howe too, a young player who has developed well this season and has been the cornerstone around which the solid Whangamata scrum has been built this season.  A big ask for the replacement players to step in, but I am sure the coaching staff will be working overtime to make sure the scrum continues to be strong through the second half of the year.

Whangamata 23 (T Smith 2 tries; P Maisey 2 conversions, 3 penalties)
Paeroa West 27 (2 tries, conversion, 5 penalties)

the match in photos