Bay u18s can take a lot from defeat

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

It is not true that you learn from every loss.

But the Poverty Bay under-18s can take a great deal out of their 14-point loss to Wellington Community in the opening round of the Hurricanes Youth Rugby Council (HYRC) tournament here on Saturday.

The visitors won 34-20 and scored six tries in the process, while the Bay scored four. Wellington Community therefore have five competition points, with both teams picking up a bonus point.

“Poverty Bay attacked the breakdowns well — they hit us in contact, busted some tackles,” said former Poverty Bay Heartland head coach Grainger Heikell, who is now in charge of the Wellington Community side.

“Dylan Hall (Bay u18s captain and openside flanker) was on the ball quickly and made some breaks. No.8 Billy Priestley ran hard, as did loosehead prop Amanaki Tonga, and fullback Moses Christie was elusive. They’ve got some ability.

“For ourselves, we’ve not been together long. It was a messy game, and there are areas we need to improve in.”

Wellington fullback Maui Wallace opened the scoring.

Tonga responded for Poverty Bay.

Wellington Community No.8 Flynn Crampton was the next to cross and hooker Geordie Bean’s try gave the visitors a 15-5 lead at the break.

Bay centre Te Hiwaroa Pomana-Paenga scored the first try of the second half and Priestley thundered in to score the Bay’s third try. The teams were level at 15-all.

Wellington’s Mofate Siupolu broke the deadlock; the right wing converted his own try for 22-15. Second five-eighth Dallas Sami then scored the eighth try of a remarkable match, which with first-five Kayden Muller’s conversion gave Wellington Community a two-try buffer at 29-15.

Poverty Bay were not done. Priestley — who has been consistently powerful and committed throughout a long season — scored his second five-pointer to close it to 29-20.

In the closing stages, referee Oliver Holst dismissed Pomana-Paenga for an awkward tackle on Muller.

Big Wellington lock Hugo Plummer then bagged the last try of the game for 34-20.

“We played really well for a first-up effort,” Bay skipper Hall said.

“We got our structure right and were able to build phases. The boys are looking forward to Saturday.”

The official HYRC tournament points award system — those points being awarded by the opposition — recognises three players from each team.

Wellington Community awarded three points to Priestley, two to Christie and one point to Hall, while the Bay awarded three points to Wellington centre Rheon Paul, two to tighthead prop Sonasco Crichton and one point to Plummer.

On Saturday, Poverty Bay u18s play Game 2 of their HYRC campaign, against Horowhenua-Kapiti, and the u16s play Wairarapa-Bush. Both games will be on Tremain Field in Napier at 1pm.

On September 22, the u16s will play Hawke’s Bay at Lambton Square, Wairoa, in their first competition game.