One of the slickest was Hawke’s Bay skipper and fullback Jayden Stok, who scored a double.
“At times it was fast, but there were also some stoppages,” said Stok, whose crew toughed out a cold, windy day on a wet Lambton Square track.
“Amos led them well in defence; they were in your face.”
Fili-Weti scored the first try of the game in the fourth minute of play. Paenga-Morgan’s conversion made the score 7-0 to Poverty Bay.
Right wing Bethel Malasia’s try in the 10th minute and the conversion by first five-eighth Hoera Stephenson made the score 7-7.
Poverty Bay’s King-Taufa then received a yellow card in his team’s 22, and Stok scored the first of his two tries just before the break for 12-7.
Hawke’s Bay second-five Adam Bibby, Stok and reserve right wing Toby Archer scored second-half tries. Stephenson converted Bibby’s try, with halfback Treyah Kingi-Taukamo converting Stok’s second effort.
Baty-Akurangi scored for Poverty Bay in the 55th minute.
Poverty Bay chose Roddick as their most valuable player, with Hawke’s Bay singling out King-Taufa and No.8 Henare Brooking as opponents worthy of mention.
“The boys should take a lot of self-belief out of that game,” Poverty Bay backs coach Miah Nikora said.
“It showed that they can match it with bigger unions.”
Despite the scoreline in Wairoa, Hawke’s Bay were not overjoyed.
“My boys were sore and very quiet on the bus ride home,” their head coach, Andy Green, said.
“Poverty Bay will beat Manawatu or Wellington if those teams take them lightly.”
