However, the loss of hooker Isaia Leach and reserve prop Sandy Hohipa-Campbell — along with loosie Leslie Hills, ruled out earlier in the week — did not help the Bay’s cause.
Leach and Hohipa-Campbell were among six Bay players who attended the tangi of Harley Hollis-Grace, who died on Tuesday.
The 23-year-old Grace, a cousin of Bay fullback Ethine Reeves, was a close friend of the Bay players, and Leach and Hohipa-Campbell felt they could not play.
“It was a really emotional day for all the boys, especially for Ethine and the Waikohu boys — Jesse Fleming, Mario Counsell, Hohipa-Campbell, and Kelvin Smith,” said Bay assistant coach Dwayne Russell, who also attended the tangi.
“We had to call in Juston Allen and Tawhao Stewart on the morning of the game, with Tamanui Hill taking over the hooker’s role.
“All things considered, it was a tremendous performance from the boys. You could see when we had the minute’s silence before the kick-off it was tough for them.”
EmotionWest Coast took advantage of the emotion, which seemed to affect the home players, and dominated the first 40 minutes. They deservedly led 19-14 at halftime, although it wasn’t until Hill was sinbinned in the 29th minute that West Coast scored a seven-pointer to put them in front, after Bay skipper and openside flanker James Grogan dotted down.
The second half was one-way traffic as the big West Coast pack began to tire.
Moala was simply unstoppable. He scored one of the Bay’s tries in the first half, showing tremendous strength and determination to get across the line.
On one 50-metre run, Moala — despite playing with a heavily strapped ankle — sidestepped his marker with the skill of a back then knocked over two tacklers.
Fullback Andrew Tauatevalu, closed the gap with a penalty in the 55th minute.
Tauatevalu, in his third Heartland game, was awarded two performance points for scoring two tries and kicking four conversions and a penalty.
The Bay forwards were Moala, Hill, Sione Ngatu (playing his 149th game for the Bay), Semisi Akana, Jacob Cook, Everard Reid, Grogan and Willis Tamatea (having his best game of the season). As they took control of the ball, the backs ran riot.
Reeves, who received one performance point, was back to his brilliant best, beating defenders with pace and strength, while Tauatevalu grew in confidence with every touch of the ball.
Bay in frontWith 10 minutes to go, the Bay hit the front for the first time in the game after a strong run from Moala, following a cut-out pass from Smith. Tauatevalu finished in style.
Tauatevalu then went from hero to villain when he knocked on from the restart. That eventually led to a Coast lineout five metres from the Bay line.
That’s when Otai introduced Auckland loan lock Alesana Leatio’o into the game. And what a substitution it was.
With his first touch, he stole the Coast lineout, allowing Reeves to clear the danger with a raking kick to the halfway line.
Moala then made a huge tackle, which stopped a Coast attacker in his tracks, and Allen ripped the ball free. Allen offloaded to Grogan, who passed to left-winger Brody Lam, who fed replacement second five-eighth Anthony Karauria, who scored the bonus-point try.
Still the Bay were not finished.
Leatio’o won a lineout 10 metres from the Coast tryline, and charged ahead before being stopped short of the line.
Grogan then came to the rescue. He made a try-saving tackle as West Coast tried to cut the deficit and earn a bonus point.
Then came the moment that brought the grandstand crowd to their feet.
Tauatevalu intercepted and raced 65 metres to score between the posts.
Grogan praised Bay trainer Tuterangi Apatu-Nepe.
“We’re not where he wants us to be but each week we’re getting fitter, and it told in the end today . . . we finished stronger than West Coast,” Grogan said.
Poverty Bay 36 (Andrew Tauatevalu 2, Siosiua Moala, James Grogan, Anthony Karauria tries; Tauatevalu 4 con, pen).
West Coast 19 (Amenatave Tukana, Todd Struthers, Steve Soper tries; Nik Cumming 2 con). HT: 19-14 (West Coast).
