North Otago stop Coast in tracks

Cam Burgess about to score, backed up by hooker Quinn Johnsen after his spectacular charge down.

Bill Phillips

It was a must-win game for West Coast but the visiting North Otago had too much firepower to win round six of the Bunnings Warehouse Heartland Rugby Championship, on Saturday in Greymouth.

The half-time score suggested it may be over when Coast were behind 19-31, but they rallied in the second 40 to win half their points, but failed to collect maximum points as North Otago won 38-31 in an 11-try feast.
The game started at a fast clip, and centre Mataitini Feke was over for a touchdown in a one-handed stretch to the line, after his team retained the ball from a few phases close to the West Coast line. Kenta Lemura took the easy conversion to have the visitors out to 7-0.

Benny Vauvau then intercepted the ball about the halfway line and bolted upfield to score wide of the posts. Cam Burgess, with a well-judged conversion into a stiff breeze, squared the scores at 7-7.
The West Coast backs then piled the pressure on their counterparts after the forwards had secured good ball possession. It was sent out the backline and winger Malachi Cagi was over in the corner. The conversion by Burgess from the sideline hit the upright. West Coast 12-7.

North Otago struck back immediately with a try to Toni Taufa, and with the conversion over, the Otago men were in the lead again, 14-12.
They were in again a few minutes later as they put in a huge touch finder that Malaki Cagi kept in play and cleared to touch. From the lineout it went to the North Otago halfback Kippei Taninaki, who darted round the openside of the forwards and made a beeline for a successful try -- virtually over untouched. Lemura added the extras from in front. North Otago 21-12.

With the half-time whistle approaching, North Otago were again on attack and had the Coast team under pressure. There was a little hold up as the front rows exchanged words and players were spoken to. As the play started to get under way again, a North Otago forward went down after an altercation with a Coast player, further delays which ended with Tyler Kearns being red-carded by referee Will Todd.

From the next scrum, Coast were under enormous pressure, being a man down. They got pushed around and the visitors were over again as the second-five Feke scored his second of the day. North Otago 26-12. They were in again via winger Sevanaia Druma and extended the lead to 31-12.

Just when you thought Coast were done, they found themselves hot on attack as half-time was up on the clock. There was a maul just wide of the posts on the scoreboard side of the field, and up popped Vauvau from the thick of things. He brought the ball closer to the posts for the conversion, which Burgess converted. Half-time from the whistle and North Otago out by 12 points, 31-19.

Ten minutes after the restart, prop Mitchell Tapp was over out wide for West Coast after a few mauls and ball retention went well for the hosts. West Coast 24-31.
North Otago then went further ahead via their centre, who got the ball at full speed, darted down the non-grandstand touchline and was able to bring the ball round to the posts after his half-field effort. Conversion over by Lemura, North Otago out to 38-24.

Never say never to this West Coast team. Hope still remained after replacement hooker Quinn Johnsen brilliantly charged down a defensive clearing kick. Burgess gathered the ball and scored close to the post in a spectacular moment. Burgess converted his own try to have Coast somewhat back into the game at 31-38. This ended up being the final score as the ball was sent to the sideline by North Otago and referee Todd signalled time.

Credit to North Otago, who looked menacing all day. They had big forwards and big backs, who made significant breaks all day and they scored some pretty good tries along the way. West Coast, in their usual never-say-die attitude, plugged away for the full 80 and could have scored a few more tries had luck gone their way at times.
West Coast head coach Jared Mitchell said it was a game where both teams took their opportunity, "but unfortunately North Otago executed a lot better than we did".

The West Coast's season now looks to be over regarding making either the Meads and Lochore Cup playoffs, given the difficult week that has been regarding points lost.

They travel to Paeroa this week to take on Thames Valley who sit three places higher on the ladder in seventh spot, and on 19 points, while West Coast are in 10th place, on four points after last week's penalty.

West Coast 31 (B Vauvau 2, M Cagi, M Tapp, C Burgess tries; C Burgess 3 con) North Otago 38 (M Feke, T Taufa, K Taninaki, S Druma, B Paton, M Qiolevu tries; K Lemura 4 con).

West Coast winger Malaki Cagi dives over to score in the corner.