The Magpies flew high around Manchester Park as Temuka pulled off a stunning second-half comeback to beat Waimate 38-31 in the Hamersley Cup club rugby grand final on Saturday.
The loss left Waimate with the unwanted ‘‘chokers’’ tag, having played four finals in the past six years without taking home the silverware and extended their championship drought to 29 years.
Waimate looked the part, leading 21-6 early on at home and 24-13 at the break.
Temuka’s second-half revival started with tries in the 51st and 56th minutes to take the lead 25-24, as the hosts looked like stunned wallabies caught in the headlights.
Outstanding Temuka first five Faalele Iosua sealed the victory in the 70th minute with an outstanding intercept try, sprinting 75m after grabbing a wide pass as Waimate tried to play catch-up footy, to make it 35-24.
Man of the match Iosua then iced the cake with a well-struck drop goal to extend Temuka’s lead to 14 points with five minutes left, and give him a personal haul of 23 points after also scoring a try and kicking three penalties and three conversions.
Temuka coaches Anam Mana and Nathan Robinson also need to take some of the kudos.
Clever substitutions had an impact, leading to Temuka’s fourth title in five years. Immediately after the break prop Penisimani Fakatoka and halfback Caleb McNoe came on, and McNoe was a stand-out.
PHOTO: STU PIDDINGTON
Temuka scored two quick tries from close range to replacement Salesi Savelio and hooker Junior Fa’avae to take the lead as the momentum swung in favour of the visitors.
Waimate continued to cough up unforced errors and Iosua added a penalty before his intercept try sealed the game.
A late try to Waimate’s Angus Jensen closed the gap on the scoreboard, but the hosts had been out-thought and outplayed in the second half.
Waimate had started brightly when No 8 Loni Toumohuni burst free to score after three minutes. Theo Davidson added the conversion and a penalty, before Iosua replied with two penalties.
Davidson extended the lead to 13-6 and then first five Dan Patterson scored an excellent individual try to have Waimate up 18-3.
Another Davidson penalty had Waimate in command, up by 18 points with 10 minutes to play in the first half.
Temuka fullback Liueli Simote scored a crucial try from close range just before halftime to get his side back into the game and start the momentum swing to the Magpies.
Temuka captain Ricki Neame said at halftime they knew they had a chance.
‘‘We just needed to hold the ball and have some fun.’’
Waimate player-coach Miles Medlicott said his side just could not find a response in the second half.
‘‘Temuka applied the pressure and we started making mistakes and missing tackles and once they got the momentum they were hard to stop.’’
There were plenty of heroes for the Magpies from one to 22.
Fa’avae, lock Etienne van Zyl, and open side Finlay Joyce stood out in the forwards. Replacement McNoe, Iosua, Neame and Simote were key performers in the backs.
For Waimate, Patterson was excellent at first five and Toumohuni ran hard while captain Tokoma’ata Fakatava worked hard in the tight.
