SPORTS COVERAGE Bay hosts womens' rugby

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...Tākaka’s lead to 15-5, but Riwaka struck twice in a devastating five-minute spell to level the scores.

The final 20 minutes saw Tākaka edge ahead, courtesy of another Oakden penalty kick, before the visitors landed a further try and conversion to put them into the lead with the score at 18-22.

A small group of rowdy Riwaka supporters, who had taken up residence in the grandstand and could now sense victory, cheered on their team and loudly celebrated every mistake made by their opponents. But the noise failed to get the visitors over the line; nor did it affect the home side who kept their composure and maintained pressure on the visitors. While Riwaka were frequently penalised for infringements, Tākaka’s discipline held firm and paid off when Tyler Palmer took the ball across the line and gave his side a one-point lead.

Despite a scare when Riwaka thought they had scored, but were ruled to not have grounded the ball, Tākaka played out a solid final 10 minutes. Final score: Tākaka 23 v Riwaka 22.

Speaking as the teams walked off the pitch, Tākaka coach Hamish Hills paid tribute to his squad. “The boys were awesome... it’s the result of months of training. I’m pumped, to win under such pressure.”

Collingwood v Valley Stags

Down the road in Collingwood the home side were locking horns with the Valley Stags in their Division 2 fixture.

It was a hotly anticipated clash, with both teams vying for a play-off spot and, after last week’s loss to Riwaka, the Black and Gold were on the hunt for points.

It turned out to be a fast and furious, no-holds-barred contest with both teams battling hard and the lead changing hands throughout the match. But it was Collingwood who supplied the final killer blow towards the end of the game to break Stag hearts and take the win.

Straight from kick-off the Stags put the home side under pressure and within three minutes drew first blood with a try to establish a five-point lead.

The home side were quick to reply, scoring a try following a hard push which propelled Liam Miller over the line. A successful conversion by Brad

Goulsbro took the score to 7-5.

With both sides clearly up for it, the referee had his work cut out but, after issuing a warning to the Stags for a high tackle, proceeded to stamp his authority on the game.

Collingwood were now warming to their task and winning the majority of set pieces, but the Stags were strong in the scrum and made the home defence work hard. Around the half-hour mark the visitors regained the lead with a converted try, but as half-time approached pressure from the Black and Gold forwards paid off as Goulsbro carried the ball over the line and converted to give his side a 14-12 advantage.

At the start of the second half both teams came out fighting – literally in one instance – which led to the physio Aaron Marshall coming on to tape up a pair of clashed heads.

Shortly after resumption of play, Collingwood stretched their advantage by a further five points thanks to a try by Clay Paton. But the Stags replied by stampeding down the touchline to score a try and conversion and level the match.

Now both teams had everything to play for in a game of tight margins. With 10 of the 80 minutes left the visitors scored what they must have thought was a decisive seven pointer which moved the score to 19-26. As the clock ticked down and tension in the crowd rose, Collingwood closed the gap with another try from Paton which Goulsbro converted. The ball was now firmly in the home side’s court as they piled on the pressure, forcing the Stags into some desperate defending – a bit too desperate it turned out, as a former Collingwood player was penalised for a high tackle and, with what was the final kick of the game, Goulsbro sent the ball cleanly between the posts. Final score: Collingwood 29 v Valley Stags 26.

Speaking immediately after the game, Collingwood captain Ryan McKay said it was "a messy game" but his team showed "plenty of ticker" and "their never-say-die attitude showed through in the end." He admitted that Collingwood were perhaps lucky to win but he was happy to take it. “A win’s a win."

The result places Collingwood third in the standings, just ahead of Tākaka in fourth.