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RUGBY
They let nothing get in their way.
Not same-day travel. Not 24-degree heat. And not their opposition.
Poverty Bay under-16s scored four tries in a 26-14 win against Wairarapa Bush in Napier on Saturday and head into their first Hurricanes Youth Rugby Council tournament game with their confidence and hopes high.
Forwards coach Willie Waitoa and backs coach Miah Nikora were pleased with the effort.
Waitoa paid tribute to, among others, reserve tighthead prop Isaiah Kiwara, who came on at the break, scrummaged well and did a good job throwing into the lineout.
“Our set-piece in the second half was awesome,” said Waitoa.
Nikora said the backs from one to nine and the four reserve backs defended strongly, and worked as a unit.
“They maintained line integrity and when one-on-one tackles had to be made, they were.”
It was a physical battle from the moment Wairarapa Bush blindside flanker Mootua Toilolo caught the ball at the kick-off.
Poverty Bay opened the scoring in the 12th minute, halfback Jordan Christie getting a great pass to centre Whetu King-Taufa, who weaved between three players to dot down.
The big Bush pack hammered at the Bay’s frontline defence but were dogged by handling errors with the goal-line in sight on all but one occasion.
That moment came in the 32nd minute when prop Malachy Wright bulldozered over from two metres out
First-five Amani Karauria-Lunt converted to give the Bush a 7-5 lead into the break.
They extended it with a try to right-wing Tremaine Rimene just 50 seconds into the spell and Karauria-Lunt, who was outstanding, converted to make it 14-5.
A try to tighthead prop Kitini Taihuka in the 47th minute, converted by reserve first five Anaru Paenga-Morgan, closed the deficit to 14-12.
Eight minutes later, Poverty Bay reserve right-wing Bryan Howard made the defensive play of the game — a one-on-one, ball-and-all tackle of Bush halfback Ala Malatai that snuffed out their momentum at a crucial moment.
In the 62nd minute, Bay fullback Tyrese Tuwairua-Brown scored to put his side ahead and Paenga-Morgan converted.
Tuwairua-Brown struck again late in the game, showing an electric change of pace and ability to step off both feet, and Paenga-Morgan added the trimmings.
Bay captain and openside flanker Amos Riddick was impressed with how his team coped with the heat and physicality.
“We stuck to our structure, kept our discipline and just as importantly, played the game at pace.”
Wairarapa Bush head coach Scott Day said it was “a good hit-out for both teams” before nominating Roddick (3pts), King-Taufa (2pts) and Tuwairua-Brown (1pt) as Poverty Bay’s best.
The Bay coaching staff chose prop Marcus Laing, Karauria-Lunt and Toilolo (1) as the Bush’s most meritorious.
Veteran referee Marty Hantz did a remarkable job in the heat as both teams played with width.
Poverty Bay kick off the Hurricanes tournament this weekend with what are traditionally tough opponents in Hawke’s Bay at Lambton Square in Wairoa.