One team was reaching their peak and the other has slipped back after a tough season, and that proved the difference as Thames Valley rightfully claimed the Meads Cup semifinal with a 38-15 win over Steelform Whanganui on Saturday.

For the second week in a row at Cooks Gardens against a Waikato country union in the Bunnings Warehouse Heartland Championship, Whanganui made an error-riddled start against a determined opponent, and were trailing 15-0 in as many minutes.

Thames Valley’s forwards and midfield had line speed and cut down any Whanganui momentum when they did get the ball, save for a strong 12 minute period entering the second quarter when a succession of penalties let them set up hooker Alesana Tofa being driven over the line, and then a penalty in front from fullback Tyler Rogers-Holden to close the gap to 15-8.

But they would get no closer, as Thames Valley, who were still winning the collisions through the middle and wanted to utilise their powerful outside backs, just lifted a notch.

Double try-scoring winger Sione Etoni was dominant out wide, as was centre Rodney Tongotea, with halfback Charlie Marsh backing up expertly to also score two tries.

Marsh’s second try came after superb passing interplay between forwards down the touchline to put his side up 25-8 at halftime, as fullback Quinn Collard brought his kicking boots to coolly slot six from seven attempts for a 15-point haul.

The Swampfoxes had the temperament for the big occasion – when first-five Todd Donlan took an early head knock, he and Collard just swapped from the first to second line and Thames Valley lost none of their continuity, while they also weathered losing Donlan for a professional foul yellow card late in the first half.

Whanganui, meanwhile had a player sinbinned in each half – first-five Dane Whale and winger Josaia Bogileka – and when they had players hurt it further weakened an already understrength lineup.

Skipper Jamie Hughes broke his hand and had to depart after trying to play through it, and then Tofa had to be helped off late in the match, although his replacement Kereti Tamou scored his first Whanganui try on a drive close to the line to briefly close the gap to 32-15, with reserve back Luke Whale’s conversion.

But there was never a hope of a comeback, as despite now going into the wind in the second stanza, Thames Valley kept up the momentum, with Etoni having run in his second try after good leadup from reserve hooker Josh Tye, and folowing Tamou’s try the Swampfoxes pinned Whanganui in their half for Collard and then second-five Fletcher Morgan to both kick three-pointers.

Young prop Will Martin, the NZ Under 20’s representative, had the stamina and power to carry on after other front-rowers were subbed, while it was lock Connor McVerry, No8 and skipper Matty Axtens, prop Te Huia Kutia and flanker Cameron Dromgool – all standouts – who set up Marsh’s decisive try.

For Whanganui, winger Peceli Malanicagi showed some individual flair with a 50-20 kick, while saving two first half tries on defence, and dynamic flanker Josefa Namosimalua will be missed when he heads to Taranaki next year.

For coach Jason Hamlin, after two years of making the Meads Cup final, it was tough to see such a promising campaign come unstuck in the last fortnight.

“We didn’t treasure the ball enough, our execution was poor again in that first [quarter].

“Drop off from the kick and that field position, and after ten minutes we were two tries and looking like they were going to roll it.

“The boys were able to pull some of it back, gave ourselves an opportunity with a try, and then we could have stretched them a couple of times.

“But we didn’t execute, that’s the most disappointing thing around it all.”

After the loss to King Country, Whanganui had wanted to be tighter around the ruck, but found Thames Valley still wore them down through those channels and then got the ball wide smartly.

 “The boys were sort of numbering up and probably not where we needed to be, and laxing out on our defensive line,” said Hamlin.

“We weren’t good enough on the day and we should own that.

“Tip the hat to the Thames Valley boys, they came out and I don’t think we asked enough of them defensively, we just went one-out

“Once we did it with quick ruck ball we were actually able to turn shoulders on them and make them turn in-and-out, and then we were able to find some gaps and spaces. 

“But more often than not, we just made it easy, we didn’t make them make decisions, and we ran towards where they were.”

Thames Valley 38 (S Etoni 2, C Marsh 2 tries; Q Collard 3 pen, 3 con, F Morgan pen) bt Whanganui 15 (A Tofa, K Tamou tries; T Rogers-Holden pen, L Whale con). HT: 25-8.
 

By Jared Smith