Water boy runs on to play as Bulls win

Will Johnston 

Jarrad Hoeata expected to run the waters for Taranaki in its match against Manawatu on Sunday, November 8.

Instead, the 36-year-old wore the amber and black jersey and came off the bench in his side’s 35-19 win.

The union’s academy manager and team’s assistant coach, Hoeata received the late call up after regular captain Mitchell Brown withdrew on match day with an ear complaint.

Coach Willie Rickards was forced to make some changes to the team hours before kick-off. Pita Gus Sowakula moved off the bench to start at No. 8 and Kaylum Boshier shifted to lock.

With no time to bring a wider squad member down State Highway Three, the already present Hoeata, who isn’t even in the squad, took his place on the bench and made a brief cameo in the final 10 minutes. It was a low-key entrance onto the field in his 80^th match because the commentators and the ground announcer barely mentioned it.

In his first match for Taranaki since 2018, Hoeata made several tackles when Taranaki defended in the dying stages of the match.

By the time the former Chiefs and Highlander loose forward came on, the match was already won, given Taranaki racked up four second-half tries and bagged a championship semi-final, likely to be against Otago in a fortnight.

Manawatu was lucky to take a 12-6 lead into the break given Taranaki played with most of the first-half ball. Sowakula and first-five eighth Stephen Perofeta were making line breaks, but the ball was turned over close to the line.  

Fullback Jayson Potroz kicked two first-half penalties, in a solid performance. He only missed one kick all day from seven attempts and controlled play from the back.

When Manawatu maintained possession, it looked good and its first try to halfback Bryn Wilson was a stunner. Manawatu’s backs combined to set Wilson up near the corner.

Just before halftime, Manawatu lock Liam Mitchell crashed over to give the home team a healthy advantage.

It was a sloppy effort on defence from Taranaki but it found its straps in the second spell when Manawatu made errors after the break.

Halfback Lisati Milo-Harris nearly scored under the posts for Taranaki only for the ball to be dislodged from his grasp.

That didn’t matter because hooker Bradley Slater scored two pushover tries with Potroz able to slot the conversion in a gusty breeze.

With a 20-12 lead, Manawatu wing Nigel Ah Wong scored a cracking try in the corner. It was similar to the first with beautiful handing and a bust by Josiah Maraku the key in Manawatu’s second delighting fans.

Replacement back Stewart Cruden kicked the conversion but that’s all the points the Turbos could manage for the rest of the game.

Taranaki scored two late tries, the first to superstar Jacob Ratumitavuki-Kneepkens, who got a lucky bounce to score his eighth try this season virtually untouched.

Wing Lewis Ormond sprinted down his touchline to dive in the corner after Taranaki pulled phase after phase together.

Potroz kicked a late penalty before Hoeata’s appearance and the Manawatu surge before the full-time siren.

Taranaki is home to Hawke’s Bay on Sunday and Manawatu travels to Wellington in the final round.

 

Taranaki 35 (Bradley Slater 2, Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, Lewis Ormond tries; Jayson Potroz 3 con, 3 pen) 

Manawatu 19 (Bryn Wilson, Liam Mitchell, Nigel Ah Wong tries; Ben Wyness con, Stewart Cruden con). HT: 

12-6.

 Photo: LDV Photography