Kiwi Rugby Club win epic Greymouth Star Jubilee Trophy Final
PICTURE: Bill Phillips, DiGiSPORT - Sean McClure with the opening try in the final.
Kiwi came back from a 12-20 half-time deficit to take out the Greymouth Star Jubilee Trophy final against arch rivals Wests Rugby Football Club , on Saturday at the home of West Coast rugby, Sturgeon Park.
Played in overcast conditions and with a big crowd of loyal supporters for both teams, the two Hokitika sides fought an epic game of rugby, in the end won by Kiwi 36-27.
Fast-paced attacking from Wests in the first half set a great platform to build on. Kiwi, on the other hand, dug deep within their camp and rallied to shift the game momentum their way in the second, and finished the better team after a great display of rugby by both teams.
Logan Ross opened the scoring for Wests with a handy penalty after only three minutes. Kiwi replied with a great try to Sean McClure, who latched on to a flat pass, and his speed was unstoppable as he scored under the posts; Kane Parker added the two points and Kiwi led 7-3.
Soon after, Wests hit the front again as their backs moved the ball around at great speed, and Nathan Smith finished off their effort midway posts and touchline. Ross was again on target to have Wests at 10-7, and then with a Ross penalty pushed their lead out to 13-7, with about 16 minutes left in the half.
Both teams were playing rugby at a fast pace in the first 20 minutes -- big tackles, fast backs, attacking at every opportunity. This was finals footy.
Jamie Garland put through a high a kick that Nathan Smith eventually got a hold off after a Kiwi mistake, and he ran wide out again, to a big sideline cheer. Ross added another conversion to have Wests out to a handy 20-7 lead as half-time approached.
Kiwi hit back with a spectacular try to halfback Jin Ho Mun down the short side. They threw the ball into the lineout which they won, and a quick pass was then intercepted by Wests but they lost it in the tackle. Mun got the ball and put in a kick, dodged a Wests player, ran hard to collect his kick in the follow through and scored wide out -- spectacular rugby. It helped Kiwi pull the score back to 12-20 at half-time.
The second half was only minutes old and Nathan Smith ran a great line as the gap appeared to push Wests out further -- a lovely try to the second-five. Wests took control of the scoreboard as Ross extended them out to 27-12 with another conversion.
Kiwi were not done by any means, however, as they found themselves on attack again. They won several phases until Troy Tauwhare put Quinn Johnsen into the gap and he ran about 15m to score wide out. Parker was again on song and Kiwi were now only eight behind at 19-27.
Kiwi scored again five minutes later. This try had some authority about it as they retained the ball for phase after phase in the Wests' 22. The forwards pounded away, two or three at a time, then supported by the rest of the forwards until Johnsen went over by the posts. That try had purpose written all over it. Parker with the easy conversion and Kiwi was now a point behind, 26-27.
The tide was turning as Kiwi were surging back into this game. The momentum stayed with the blues as they retained the ball on several occasions. Then a nice back line movement right out to the winger resulted in a try to Te Kawa Anderson. A superb sideline conversion from Parker took them out to 33-27.
With 10 minutes to go, Wests were hot on attack and looked desperate to level the scores as they threatened to go over. Side to side the play went, Wests retaining possession and still looking hungry. Finally, the ball popped out and Kiwi were able to relieve the pressure with a kick down field. Wests then infringed within Parker's kicking range, and he slotted a rare penalty kick to take Kiwi out to 36-27.
The red and blacks now had to score twice with seven minutes left on the clock. This was not to be as play was on the halfway, and the ball went to Dan Tauwhare, who kicked it out to end what was a great game of rugby between the two top teams in the West Coast competition.
Kiwi first five-eighth Kane Parker now has 150 club points after collecting 11 points from this game.
Kiwi player-coach Troy Tauwhare said: "We knew it was going to be one hell of a game and it didn't disappoint. At half-time we were down 20-12, we just couldn't get any phases going, then after half-time they scored straight away. But the team has strong faith in each other, willing to work for each other. We were pretty unstoppable for a good 20-minute period, we got back in the lead.
"All credit to Wests -- another awesome game of footy.
"We will celebrate but it's only half a job done -- we have West Coast games now."
West Coast rugby will return to their club competitions with semi-finals and final from next week.
Kiwi 36 (Sean McClure, Jin Ho Mun, Quinn Johnsen 2, Te Kawa Anderson tries; Kane Parker 4 pen, con) Wests 27 (Nathan Smith 3 tries; Logan Ross 3 con, 2 pen).
