It was a classic game of two halves as Whangamata took on playing through champions Hauraki North. With a wind at their back, Whangamata led at the halftime mark 13-10, before losing the match 13-30, conceding a late try to blow the score out from a more realistic 13-23.

A bad start from Whangamata though saw the red and whites down by 0-7 almost before the spectators had taken their seats as blue wave after blue wave of North attack saw them dot down out wide after the Whangamata defence just ran out of numbers on the short side.

The Whanga boys then got into their game, battling back with a flood of possession as the North lineout disintegrated under pressure from lock Gene Waller and captain Mike Cunningham. North failed to take a single possession from this set piece in the first half. The Whangmata dominance at this set piece in the first forty culminated in a classic lineout take and a 20 metre drive for the only try of the match, to hooker Tommy Smith.

The second spell however was a different kettle of fish as North, known for their forward power came out firing, and proceeded to pin an increasingly error ridden Whangamata in their own half. The Blue Bulls pack finally gained dominance with some powerful scrummaging and the points inevitably came.

Whangamata fought on gamely, but each time the pressure was relieved, another error would creep in and another blue wave would roll in on attack. Tackled to a standstill, North started to find gaps in the defence, and as injuries mounted and the bench was cleared, the score mounted.

Whangamata 13 (T Smith try, P Maisey conversion, 2 penalties).

Hauraki North 30 (tries and conversions and stuff)!!

the match in photos