League: Waicoa Bay teams try hard | Rotorua Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Rotorua

There was a special character flavour about the three Waicoa Bay teams who performed against Wellington.

After settling in at Hopuhopu, Ngaruawahia, on Saturday for training and team workshops, including learning a haka and sleeping overnight, the teams flew to Wellington with a lot of support for each other.

The open-grade Waicoa Bays Stallions had a close first half against Wellington Orcas, who held a slim 10-8 lead at half time, but couldn't withstand the atrocious Sunday conditions and were outscored by five tries to two, losing 22-8.

The Waicoa Bay Under 17s came from 14-0 down at half time to draw level, 18-18 with five minutes left against Wellington. However, a try in the corner to the home side saw them take the game 22-18.

Bay locals Hone Hakaraia and Shaun Kingi-Murray (Central) earned their place in the colts run-on team with Waicoa captain Regan Haika (Taupo Phoenix) and ex-Warrior Wairangi Koopu's younger brother Tamatererewa Koopu (Taniwharau) playing with a lot of vigour and go-forward. Their team was the only side from both zones to perform a pre-match haka.

The Waicoa Bay Under 15s also played well, down 10-4 at half time, eventually going down 16-8.

This Sunday, it's a home game at Resthills Hamilton where the Upper Central (Waicoa Bays) teams meet Mid-Central (Heartlands) at 1pm.