Bay u16s play with spirit

BALL WON: Keanu Wainohu-Kemp wins lineout ball for Poverty Bay against Wellington in an under-16 match in Whanganui yesterday. Wellington won 46-12. Picture supplied

THEY were made to work for it.

The Wellington under-16 rugby team beat Poverty Bay 46-12 at the Hurricanes tournament in Whanganui yesterday but the Bay played with spirit.

Although they were 22-12 down at halftime, Poverty Bay had scored two superb tries through hard-running centre Niko Lauti and courageous fullback Braedyn Grant.

First five-eighth Matt Proffit converted the try by Grant.

Lauti’s try was reckoned to be the quickest in the history of the tournament: he scored 54 seconds into the game.

“Both teams were playing structured rugby,” Poverty Bay coach Tuki Sweeney said.

“Wellington were bigger than us but our tighthead prop Sione Mafileo had a really strong game at the scrum and when starting lock Amos Roddick — normally a flanker — came off, No.8 Keanu Wainohu-Kemp joined Isaiah Booth in the second row.

“Isaiah tackled strongly and Keanu won a lot of lineout ball.

Our MVP (most valuable player) and captain, openside flanker Dylan Hall, led by example with his commitment in defence, and the overall effort from our boys was outstanding.”

Wellington coach Willie Leota said of his team, who were well led by captain and hooker Geordie Bean: “Riley Higgins-De La Rambelje scored a hat-trick from fullback — he was our MVP — and No.8 Jeremiah Tuiatua was the dominant forward.

“It wasn’t a pretty game for us, we played OK in patches, but to win ugly is not a bad thing — especially at this stage of the tournament.”

The game was well controlled by Hawke’s Bay referee Amon Rimene.

POVERTY BAY 12 (Niko Lauti, Braedyn Grant tries; Matt Proffit con).

WELLINGTON 46 (Riley Higgins-De La Rambelje 3, Sam Champion, Ropati So’oalo, Cassius Misa, Geordie Bean, Sam Shaw-Tait tries; Misa 2 con, Rocco Berry con).