Kaiapoi champions again

• Published date: 04 August 2022
• Publication title: North Canterbury News

Finals day was originally scheduled to be played at Kaiapoi but with record rainfall recorded during the previous week the fields at Kaiapoi Park were under water and the sensible decision was made to transfer the matches to Mandeville, renowned as possibly the best wet weather sports field in the province

The Ohoka Club did a magnificent job hosting six matches at very short notice.

Under foot conditions were perfect for almost the whole day.

Although when a thick drizzle set in halfway through the first half of the Division 1 final it did, understandably become a little slippery.

Division 1 Final: Kaiapoi v Hurunui

With Taine Jacobs-Lawson landing two early penalties, and Kyle McKenzie responding with one to Hurunui, the early exchanges were very even.

There were hopeful signs, though, for Hurunui with Ben Funnell claiming a vital turnover, their lineout men, Flyn Crean and Jed McDonald seeming to have the best of the aerial battle and their scrum even claiming a tight head against the much-vaunted Kaiapoi scrummaging unit.

But when the drizzle arrived at the 20 minute mark, Kaiapoi were the quicker to adapt their tactics.

Half-back Codey Grimes and first five, Jacobs-Lawson, used their boot to good effect to play the territorial game.

They both showed the benefit of finals experience and had a huge impact on the game.

The forwards, too, did their bit.

One particularly effective rolling maul put Hurunui under a lot of pressure and skipper Jacob Hurring declined a possible penalty opportunity.

These tactics were rewarded after 25 minutes when prop, Zac Andrews, took a quick tap and barged over wide out for what was to prove to be the only try of the match.

A second penalty to McKenzie left Kaiapoi with an 11-6 half-time lead.

Another penalty to Jacobs-Lawson midway through the second half were the only points of the half.

Jacobs-Lawson and Grimes continued to play for territory and as Hurunui had to try to chase the game, the number of errors, already higher than usual, started to mount up.

Kaiapoi has been well served by its loose forwards all season. Matt Etheredge, Jarrod Smith and Hurring all had excellent matches.

Such is the team’s depth in that position they could afford to substitute skipper, Hurring, relatively early in the second half, and the team lost nothing, getting great value out of its bench, particularly the likes of Jarred Gilmore and Bailey Counihan.

In the end, though, it was Kaiapoi’s unwavering dedication on defence that kept...