Both Waipā premier teams took home bragging rights as winners in round five of Waikato men’s club rugby on Saturday.
Former Cambridge High School First XV player Gabe Ghersi leaps to catch the ball for Ōhaupō in Hamilton. Photo: Jesse Wood
Cambridge-based Hautapu travelled to face United Matamata Sports and doubled their score, 38-19.
Hautapu scored six tries to three as they celebrated 50 games for openside flanker Elijah Corbett.
Livewire halfback Rui Farrant crossed the chalk twice for the visitors.Waisake Salabiau, Quentin Hill, Rico McQuoid and Amos Faaola were the other try scorers. Pivot Dillon Martin added three conversions and reserve Dallas Rata-Makene added another.
Te Awamutu Sports gave their home crowd a show, beating Melville 48-19 at Albert Park.
First five-eighth Logan “Woody” Karl scored 18 points in his 80th premier game for the club and hooker Ethan Refoy scored his first premier try.
Fellow forwards Liam Pratt, Ramirez Viane, Luka Benseman and Jake Russ, alongside halfback Zealin Prime, also scored tries for Te Awamutu.
Logan Karl scored 18 points in his 80th premier match for his beloved Te Awamutu Sports. Photo: Justin Miezenbeek
Hautapu B collected a close 38-32 win against United Matamata Sports B, while Te Awamutu’s development side lost 41-12 to Melville’s B side.
Leamington was the only unsuccessful Waipā team in Division 1, falling 36-22 to Hinuera.
Pirongia beat Frankton 43-26 at Swarbrick Park and Ōhaupō, also playing in Hamilton, took down Te Rapa to a similar tune, 47-21, at St Andrews Park.
Out of the Division 1B teams, Pirongia was the only success story. They won 33-15 against Frankton B.
Ōhaupō B defaulted their match and Leamington B lost 29-10 to Hinuera B at Wealleans Park.
Some big scores were posted in the women’s premiership division and the Waipā sides were on the wrong side of them.
Hosts Hautapu fell 59-6 against the destructive Melville women and Kihikihi lost 83-0 to the dominant Hamilton Old Boys Huskiez at Kihikihi Domain.
This Saturday will see Kihikihi travel south to face Ōtorohanga, while Hautapu venture into Hamilton to face University women.
Women’s championship division team Pirongia lost 61-0 to the Putāruru wāhine.
Hautapu were the top scoring colts’ team of the weekend, beating University 81-29 in Hamilton.
The other three Waipā under-21 teams lost. Leamington colts lost 21-5 to Hinuera, Suburbs pipped Te Awamutu 36-34 and Pirongia were belted 55-7 by Hamilton Marist’s young guns.
Maihihi-based Kio Kio United Cattle Dogs defaulted to Karaka in the combined Waikato-Counties Manukau Under-85kg rugby competition. This Saturday, Kio Kio will host Patumahoe.
The presidents over-35 grade kicked off with the annual 10-a-side tournament on Saturday at Pirongia Domain.
Pirongia, Leamington, Kihikihi and Te Awamutu Marist have teams entered this season.They officially kick off on Friday night.
Pirongia will be hosted by Suburbs at Flagstaff Park and Leamington welcome Kihikihi. Te Awamutu Marist face Te Rapa on Saturday in Hamilton.
Hautapu halfback Rui Farrant helped himself to a double at Bedford Park in Matamata. Photo: Matt Gould
