UNTOUCHED: EBOP outside back Brimsy Marshall races away down field against the Ngāti Porou East Coast in their Basil Simpson Trophy match at Ōpōtiki's Princess Street Reserve. Photo Troy Baker E4833-042
Staff Reporter
Impressive is the best way to sum up the Eastern Bay of Plenty senior men’s performance at Ōpōtiki on Saturday having had only one training together and a game-day walk through of moves.
The rugby team kicked off their two match representative campaign in fine style with a 42-19 win over the Ngāti Porou East Coast at Princess Street Reserve.
EBOP, comprising players from various teams in the region, played some good rugby in the clash against East Coast, who still have players to return ahead of their Heartland Championship campaign.
It was a fantastic result for EBOP, who threw the ball wide and used their speedy outside backs to find plenty of holes in the East Coast defence.
The victory saw the Basil Simpson Trophy return to the Eastern Bay for the next 12 months, after a year in Ruatoria.
Coach Geoff Olsen was proud of the way his side played.
“Our scrum was good, we dominated up front, especially early on, and our line out went well, as well. I think we stole a couple of theirs off them too, so that’s pleasing.
“We managed to find plenty of space in the backline with our speedy backline and we used it quite well to exploit them there. They said after the game that our backs made it difficult for them.”
Olsen said the entire team played well and contributed to the victory.
“Lemeki Cagialau was outstanding and helped himself to a hat trick and Ryshawn [Vercoe] guided things well from first five. It was a good first up performance.”
This Saturday, EBOP take on Poverty Bay at the Oval and Olsen expects them to be a step up again.
“These are great games for the boys to be involved in. They are tougher than anything most of them will have played in before, and it is giving them a bit of exposure, something we don’t seem to get any of from the Bay of Plenty Rugby Union.
“It will be a big trip down to Gisborne to face them, but the boys are excited and will be keen to end their representative season unbeaten.”
Olsen said it was great having players from the likes of Tāneatua, Edgecumbe and Matatā involved in their rep team.
“They lift another level because they are competing with guys for a starting spot. It challenges them and it’s really getting the best out of them being in an environment like this.”
Not surprisingly, Western Bay and Central, who were comfortably beaten by the Eastern Bay last year, have opted against fielding teams this year, so the sub-union competition won’t be going ahead.
“It’s disappointing but that is the sort of interest Bay of Plenty shows us. So, we will be keeping that trophy for another season because there’s no one to put it up against.”
The opportunity to play the Heartland sides is something different and has the potential to offer up a different pathway for a couple of the players.
In an earlier clash at Princess Street Reserve, the Eastern Bay women played Ngāti Porou East Coast, coming out victors, 39-25.
It was a strong EBOP team that featured plenty of talent and although the home team had no reserve backs and only limited numbers, they managed to play some good rugby and run out winners.
EBOP managed to sneak ahead 15-10 at halftime, thanks to tries from Helena Coughlan and Pauline Brown.
In the second stanza, they continued to throw it round and were rewarded with some cracking five pointers.
They also head to Gisborne for a contest against Poverty Bay, which will be a step up in intensity from their first match where they played well at times, but also allowed the East Coast back into the contest with some soft errors.
Olsen said it was great having them playing first as it created a great atmosphere.
“We are travelling down with them to Gisborne next week, so it’s going to be good having the two teams together.”
Following the Poverty Bay clash, the men will head into trophy matches with their club teams.