Bay u18s bounce back in style

CLEARING KICK: Poverty Bay first five-eighth Quinn Collard kicks out of the danger zone under pressure from Horowhenua Kapiti flanker Isaac Laracy in a Hurricanes Youth Rugby Council under-18 game in Napier. The Bay ran in eight tries in a 48-21 victory, captain Dylan Hall turning in a man-of-the-match performance that included three tries. Picture by Tony Gibson

RUGBY

Poverty Bay under-18s bounced back from their loss to Wellington Community with a 48-21 win against Horowhenua Kapiti in Napier at the weekend.

The Bay brought up their first win of the Hurricanes Youth Rugby Council tournament in style with eight tries.

Captain and openside flanker Dylan Hall grabbed a hat-trick and kicked a conversion, No.8 Billy Priestley got a double and there was one try each to hooker Seth Lundon, right-wing Genesis Bartlett-Tamatea and loosehead prop Amanaki Tonga.

First five-eighth Quinn Collard kicked three conversions.

Head coach Jamie Hutana was delighted.

“The boys played with confidence,” he said. “There was structure, discipline and skills . . . it was a good game.”

Hall scored one and a half minutes into the game.

Hawke’s Bay referee Stuart Catley, who did a fine job, awarded a penalty, halfback Quintony Ngatai tapped, went down the blindside and two phases later, Hall finished off.

The skipper was on hand to make it a second try in the fifth minute from fullback Moses Christie’s run down the blindside, and Collard converted.

Horowhenua Kapitai left-winger Tremaine Thompson-Ashford fielded an opposition chip kick and ran 55 metres to score in the corner in the 16th minute, and fullback Arana Murphy’s conversion made it 12-7 to the Bay.

A break from halfway line down the right touch by Bay lock Ofa Tauatevalu set up Lundon for his 24th-minute try, which Collard converted.

On the 30-minute mark, Priestley crossed and was soon followed by Hall, whose hat-trick try was converted by Collard for a 31-7 halftime lead.

The Mark Tooman-coached ’Nua had the perfect start to the second half when Murphy scored and converted his own try.

The Bay responded in the 40th minute through Bartlett-Tamatea for a 36-14 lead but lost the powerful Tauatevalu to a left ankle sprain in the 44th minute.

The pace of the game was relentless as both sides played positive, up-tempo rugby.

In the 51st minute, Horowhenua-Kapiti reserve right-wing James Woodmas scored and Murphy converted.

Priestley went over for his second in the 59th and on fulltime, loosehead prop Tonga crossed for the 11th and last try of the game, which Hall converted.

“The boys came out hissing in the first half,” said Hall. “And we’re building game by game, with everyone playing a role.”

In the 1-2-3 Most Valuable Player points awards selected by opposing sides, Horowhenua-Kapiti gave Hall three points, Lundon two and Tuhakia-Stewart one.

Poverty Bay’s management chose No.8 James Gilland (3), halfback Elian Mohi-Henare (2) and Rauhihi (1) as the Nua’s best.

The Bay named Hall their MVP and Horowhenua Kapiti selected Gilland.

The Bay’s next Pool B game is against Wellington Centurions at Bond Field in Napier this Saturday.