The crowds turned up at Albert Park despite the damp weather.
Hong King China left it to the last minute to seal a 24-22 win over a Waikato XV in an international hosted by Te Awamutu Sports last week.
Ōtorohanga born-and-bred prop Taipari Quinn (front) runs out with the Waikato XV at his former club, Te Awamutu Sports. Photo: Your Moment Photos – Matt Gould
Hautapu forward Andrew Smith in the Waikato XV lineout. Photo: Your Moment Photos – Matt Gould
Rui Farrant prepares to feed the ball into the scrum. Photo: Your Moment Photos – Matt Gould
Waikato, with club players from seven premier clubs les 10-7 at the break.
Former King Country Rams Josh Balme, Alex Thrupp and Patrick Hedley featured in the 25-man matchday squad, alongside Ōtorohanga product Taipari Quinn (Fraser Tech).
Hautapu boasted Hedley, Waisake Salabiau, Andrew Smith, Rui Farrant and Michael Naitokani, as well as flanker Tyler McNutt in the Hong Kong China team.
Te Awamutu Sports were also well represented. Captain Jake Russ, Austin Anderson, Zealin Prime, Tairoa Crean took the field in front of home support.
Former Sports players involved were front-rowers Quinn and Sean Ralph now at Hamilton Old Boys.
Kaipaki-based Waikato head coach Leon Holden said it was about giving back to those players and their clubs as well as creating depth.
“This team worked hard in our high-performance environment during the club season,” Holden said.
“All the players have committed themselves to additional trainings on Monday nights since the start of March and deserve to be congratulated for their efforts.
“It was neat to pick from so many different clubs. It’s part of my overall strategy of trying to strengthen club rugby and make our base bigger.
Waisake Salabiau was one of the four Waikato XV try scorers. Photo: Your Moment Photos – Matt Gould
Morrinsville Sports teammates Tui Paitai and Alex Thrupp played for the Waikato XV. Thrupp represented King Country 35 times between 2016 and 2021. Photo: Morrinsville Sports
Mooloo try scorers at Albert Park were Salabiau, Mosese Mafi, Kurtis Hana and Ralph.
Holden said even with the wet conditions, it was a very physical game and told fans “your support, energy and passion make these occasions so special for our players and our rugby community”.
“Talking to the Hong Kong China coaches afterwards, they got a lot out of it. They’ve never really played in conditions like that – they play on turf and the weather is normally fairly good over there,” Holden said.
“They’ve got three test matches coming up and it was the best possible preparation for them. They got hit hard – our boys were fired up for the game.
“We got a lot out of it too. It was great to see some of those players at another level up from club rugby, to see how they handled it.
“They all handled it well – it was good to see where our depth levels are at ahead of the season.”
The Waikato squad players will be available for club finals in mid-July, followed by a short turnaround of a pre-season game against Hawke’s Bay in Taupō and the NPC round one clash with Bay of Plenty on July 30.
Read: Hautapu to China, and back
The crowds turned up at Albert Park despite the damp weather. Photo: Your Moment Photos – Matt Gould
18-game King Country Rams lock (2019-2020, 2022) Josh Balme pictured on the right of Hamilton Marist teammate Adrein Wharawhara. Photo: Hamilton Marist
It was a physical, wet battle at Albert Park. Photo: Your Moment Photos – Matt Gould
from left, Te Awamutu Sports’ representatives in the Waikato XV were Jake Russ, Zealin Prime, Tairoa Crean and Austin Anderson. Photo: Te Awamutu Sports
Rui Farrant prepares to feed the ball into the scrum. Photo: Your Moment Photos – Matt Gould
Hong Kong China – Hautapu
