Rugby Country v Town - Scott McKinley, Matt Raleigh, James Warren
We live and learn.
Town against Country has its backers but the chances of such a fixture happening again next year just ahead of the Poverty Bay club rugby playoffs appear to be remote.
A roll call of the 62 players initially named in both squads would result in 37 marked absent, injured, unavailable or suspended.
In the trying circumstances, the players who were there produced a remarkable spectacle at MoreFM Rugby Park on Saturday — The Gisborne Herald Town winning 34-31 with a last-gasp try over a resilient PGG Wrightson Country.
Town levelled the series at a game apiece, after Country had won the first contest, in May, 26-21.
The first game served as a trial for Poverty Bay before the Queen’s Birthday Weekend clash against Ngati Porou East Coast.
With so many players out and the nature of the line-ups unclear right up until kick-off, the second game lacked defensive intensity but produced extraordinary moments on attack.
Town first five-eighth Jake Holmes had a delightful chip and regather to set up a try for lock Juston Allen.
Andrew Tauatevalu, who started at centre for Town, scored a hat-trick, including a sublime individual try.
Country were heavy underdogs but it looked like nobody had passed that on to Matt Raleigh and Christy Stuart.
Raleigh produced a whole-hearted display at centre and Stuart made every post a winner on the wing.
Country were so depleted that they had to borrow OBM halfback Willy Grogan and start him at second five-eighth.
He featured in one of the more unlikely moments when he breezed past a series of defenders to score a try.
Country were up 21-5 at halftime but Town stormed back in the second half, with an injury-time try to openside flanker Nicolas Carrizo sealing the result.
Poverty Bay captain Ken Houkamau, who started on the bench for Town, said the game turned out to be quite an exhibition, with a lot of ball movement.
The new players who came in would be better for the experience, he said.
Poverty Bay and Town coach Tom Cairns said Ngatapa flankers Chase Sheridan and Jacob Samuel shone for Country.
Both first-fives directed their teams well, with Country pivot Kelvin Smith showing he’s a good organiser.
Will Bolingford put in a sound display at No.8 for Town and lock Gabe Te Kani again looked strong.
Town second-five James Warren also impressed.
Country and Poverty Bay backs coach Miah Nikora said his side put up a good effort.
Though they were down on numbers, Country still had strong leaders in the group, he said.
Raleigh, a promising first-five, showed he could cut it at centre.
Nikora said prop Campbell Chrisp and lock Sam McDell led the forward pack well.
Chrisp said the game was played at pace and some senior players “fronted up” for Country.
Town fullback Scott McKinley said the game was enjoyable, good skills were on show and the day produced outstanding tries.
It was also a good runaround for referee Damien Macpherson. He is on the comeback trail from a broken leg and, in charge of his second senior game of the season, didn’t appear to have any serious problems.
About half of the players originally named in the Town squad played.
For Country, just eight out of 29 players originally listed in the squad laced up their boots.
Two out of 13 players from the YMP club who were named initially — Stuart and lock Willis Tamatea — got on the park for Country. Some were not there because of suspension.
On the other hand, Waikohu trio Mario Counsell, Kelvin Smith and Geoff Pari were originally listed as unavailable or injured but all turned up to play.
The last round of the Civil Project Solutions senior club rugby regular season is this week, before the playoffs.
The future of the Town against Country fixtures will be part of an end-of-season review.