Shaquille Rangi had a powerful game at halfback for Kahurangi.
Kahurangi sits alone at the top of the Stuff Tasman Trophy club rugby competition after Saturday’s seventh round, where it came from behind to snatch a dramatic 35-34 victory over Waimea Old Boys in the battle of the two undefeated teams. The men from Riwaka have been front-runners for much of the season but faced the rare challenge of being behind late in Saturday’s game after giving up an early lead. Kahurangi led 12-0 within the first 15 minutes before crucial mistakes let Waimea Old Boys back into the contest, who dominated the second half to close the game right up. The lead then changed three times in the nail-biting final 10 minutes.
LUZ ZUNIGA/Stuff
Waimea Old Boys David Paulo scores a try, during their match against Marist, at Trafalgar Park on Saturday.
Waimea Old Boys and Marist produced a frenetic 80-minute game of rugby on Saturday which yielded 97 points and ended with Waimea Old Boys maintaining its perfect record after three weeks of the Stuff Tasman Trophy club rugby season. Elsewhere, Wanderers earned its first win of the season after two draws over the opening fortnight of the competition, coming from behind to defeat Stoke while Central and Kahurangi both moved into the top four with dominant performances. Waimea Old Boys and Marist have been difficult to split over recent seasons with the two sides being involved in many close fought encounters. Saturday proved no different, although it didn’t start that way.