One miserable point stings TA Sports

• Published date: 23 June 2022

Tries to Shauncy Waho, Iosefo Vulu and Mimio Fuimaono, converted by Taha Kemara (1) and Logan Karl (2) spoke for Te Awamutu’s points, but it was two defensive lapses for long-range tries and a high first-hour penalty count that proved to be the difference

Sports made the best possible start to the game when midfielder Shauncy Waho anticipated a sweeping University move while backed up on defence and intercepted the key pass, running 80m to score in the opening minutes and securing an early 7-0 lead.

University, however, took charge of the game from there, camping in the Te Awamutu quarter and forcing the visitors to defend their line for extended periods.

Reward would come in a penalty goal after 20 minutes, followed by their first try to take an 8-7 lead as the half drew on.

Penalties and costly turnovers undid any momentum Sports could muster and keep them pinned in their half, but their defensive line held firm, the score 8-7 at the break.

The second half continued with the same theme as the first, with University controlling possession and territory, but the defensive hustle and effort from Sports holding them out until the 63rd minute when a messy University lineout win left a channel open to break through and run away untouched and extend their lead to 15-7.

After spending three-quarters of the game backed into their half and buried under an overwhelming penalty count, Sports felt the momentum shift in their direction, riding back-to-back penalties into the University half.

An extended period of pressure was rewarded in the 71st minute when powerful prop Vulu crashed over from close to the ruck. Karl’s conversion closed the gap to one point.

They shot themselves in the foot, though, directly from the kick-off, when a staggered kick-chase line left a gap for University to restore their eight-point lead with six minutes to play.

Stung into action, Te Awamutu went back on attack, the penalty count starting to even out as University got desperate to hold on, resulting in Sports being hot on attack as the clock ticked away.

Replacement prop Fuimaono spotted a gap in the ruck defence and dived over from close range and, along with Karl’s conversion, close the gap to one point with only seconds to play.

Sports worked their way downfield from the kick-off, and just as they got into the University half, were undone by a knock-on in contact to end the game.

While there was plenty of disappointment in losing their second consecutive one-point game, there were...