Hautapu v Te Awamutu Premier
Hautapu v Te Awamutu Premier. Photos: Mary Anne Gill.
Honours were shared between Waipā rugby clubs Hautapu and Te Awamutu at Memorial Park in Cambridge on Saturday.
But Hautapu supporters will not see it that way after their premier A team beat Te Awamutu 17-12 to maintain second place in Waikato Rugby’s premier grade competition.
A 51-5 victory by Te Awamutu’s premier B team over Hautapu in the curtain raiser was conveniently forgotten when the final whistle blew in the main match.
Te Awamutu will rue its ill-discipline in the first half which saw a player sent to the sin bin while the coaches will no doubt be ordering some additional lineout practice after their jumpers lost valuable ball at crucial times.
Play of the day was winger Quentin Hill’s late try in the second half from behind the halfway line as Te Awamutu pressed hard for the equaliser.
Hautapu’s win sets up a top-of-the-table clash on Saturday when Hautapu host leaders Hamilton Marist, the only unbeaten team in the competition.
Te Awamutu slips back to sixth in the table and will be looking to bounce back against Melville at home on Albert Park in Te Awamutu.
Hautapu Colts continued to extend their 100 per cent winning start to the season with a 41-24 win at Hamilton Boys High School. Pirongia beat Rugby United 16-10 while Te Awamutu Sports beat Fraser Tech 40-7 and Leamington beat Southern United 27-5.
The Colts stay equal top of their 16-team competition and face sixth-placed Eastern Suburbs at Memorial Park in the next round.
Pirongia is eighth, four points ahead of Leamington and seven ahead of Te Awamutu.
Premier A: Hautapu 17 – tries, Quentin Hill 2, Shi Jie Yong; Quintony Ngatai 1 con. Te Awamutu 12 – Carl Finlay, Sam Toa tries; Toa 1 con.
Te Awamutu Premier B 51 – tries, Elijah Mataira 2, Zealin Prime, CJ Kaua, Dillon Martin, Ryley Emery, Nikau Nolan and David Sue; Dillon Martin 3 cons, Hautapu 5 – Tuhoe Kake try.
Te Awamutu lock Gelestino Kiutau has the try line in his sights watched by team mate, first five Logan Karl, while Hautapu prop Tahere Reha looks to make the tackle. Referee Grant Stuart looks on.
Tai Cribb (lifted) Kawa Kiri (8 – Back to camera), Gelestino Kiutau (to left)
Quintony Ngatai clears the ball for Hautapu.
Quintony Ngatai clears the ball for Hautapu.
Quintony Ngatai puts in a defensive clearing kick
Quintony Ngatai feeds the Hautapu scrum
Hautapu’s Shi Jie Yong scores the opening try.
Hautapu v Te Awamutu Premier
Hautapu winger Quentin Hill storms downfield on his way to scoring the match-winning try, watched by Te Awamutu winger Cody Nordstrom (back to camera) and Jake Russ (background). 
Cody Nordstrom (left), watches as Carl Finlay scores a try for Te Awamutu.
Quintony Ngatai clears from the Hautapu scrum
Latrell Smiler Ah-Kiong (attempting tackle)
Latrell Smiler Ah-Kiong (attempting tackle)
Latrell Smiler Ah-Kiong (attempting tackle)
