“Some really good patches” was how Cairns put it.
“It was always willing — big connections, big hits and big plays.”
Club rugby took a break on Saturday to allow the first of two Civil Project Solutions Town versus Country matches.
Players and coaches from High School Old Boys, OBM and Pirates-GMC lined up for Town, and their counterparts from YMP, Waikohu and Ngatapa were aligned with Country.
It was a frenetic first 20 minutes, as Country’s talented backline searched for ways to breach Town’s defence.
Centre Te Peehi Fairlie, who always looked likely with ball in hand, scored Country’s first try.
Town then got into the match, however, and first five-eighth Baxter Mackay took advantage of front-foot ball and space to score Town’s first try.
Midway through the first half Town halfback George Halley limped off the field, injured. His replacement, Jacob Leaf, scored Town’s second try, diving over after Town’s forwards had got them close.
Country hit back right on halftime when flanker Fawn White dived on the loose ball from a charge-down.
It was 14-all at halftime and Town continued to hold their own after the break.
Replacement loose forward Nicolas Carrizo dotted down for Town and the try was converted to put them up 21-14.
But Country finished the game strongly.
Reihana Wyllie — who started at first-five for Country and looked sound there in combination with halfback Quinnton Pari-Collins — dived over from short range.
Fullback and co-captain Ethine Reeves converted from the sideline to level the scores.
Christy Stuart scored Country’s final try, on the right wing. It was the only try of the day that was not converted.
Scott Brodie was impressive at lock for Country and the loose forwards of both sides had eye-catching moments.
Country co-captain and hooker Shayde Skudder said his team’s strong finish came down to desire.
“Everyone realised that if we wanted the first game, we had to dig deep and get it.”
The side rallied together, he said.
The players were pushing for places in the rep squad but also adapting to what their coaches and teams needed, and they went out there to play hard rugby.
Town co-captain Jacob Cook said playing in a team formed from three different clubs was “pretty cool”.
Cook said the team prepared well at the two training sessions they had.
Town’s start was a bit slow but, after the first 10 minutes, they found their rhythm, he said.
The game was a tough battle throughout and he said it could have gone either way.
Country coach Miah Nikora, who will be in charge of Poverty Bay’s back play, said the game enabled the union to get a head start before the rep season.
He said some of the playing structures they worked on at the practice sessions could be seen out on the park in the match.
The game gave some players a taste of the pace and physicality that would be needed at rep level.
Nikora said that with rolling substitutions and new combinations, errors were inevitable, but they were not from lack of effort.
Poverty Bay Rugby Football Union president Dick Glover urged the players to make the most of their potential.
Although there were questions about fitness and skill levels, the players showed promise and needed to keep working on their game — they couldn’t leave it up to the coaches.
Both teams linking arms in one circle at the end of the match was “the start of a culture” for Poverty Bay this season, he said.
The refereeing duties were shared by Isaac Hughes and Ollie Holst — young referees who both looked in command of proceedings.
Country 26 (Te Peehi Fairlie, Fawn White, Reihana Wyllie, Christy Stuart tries; Ethine Reeves 3 con) Town 21 (Baxter Mackay, Jacob Leaf, Nicolas Carrizo tries; Andrew Tauatevalu 3 con).
