Former teammates now opposing coaches

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

It’s going to be wet and wild.

The Poverty Bay under-18 rugby team play the Wellington Community team, coached by former Poverty Bay Heartland coach Grainger Heikell, at midday tomorrow.

The game is at Rugby Park. The PB u16s’ 10.30am clash with Thames Valley has been shifted to the Rectory field because of ground conditions.

Heikell’s long-time High School Old Boys teammate Jamie Hutana is head coach of the Poverty Bay u18s.

“We are the underdogs and have nothing to lose, but rain is a leveller,” said Hutana, a Bay centurion.

“We will rely on the forwards to step up, and halfback Angus Twigley and first five-eighth Quinn Collard to direct the team.”

The Bay u16s are also optimistic.

“We’ve got some talent,” backs coach Miah Nikora said.

“Caleb Te Whare’s a promising No.10 and the midfield combination of Manaakiao Maxwell and Porourangi Gemmell, who’ve played age-group together in younger teams, is a strong one we hope will do well for us.

“It’s been a while since these boys have been out there although they’ve been training for three weeks, and they’re excited at the prospect of getting out there tomorrow.”

Thames Valley are coming off a 45-25 win against East Coast at Hatea-a-Rangi in Tokomaru Bay on Wednesday.

Oliver Holst (PB) and Adam Tapsell (PB) will referee the fixtures.

POVERTY BAY U-18s: Amanaki Tonga, Seth Lundon, Salesi Niuvao, Isaiah Booth, Nikau Maxwell, Chase Sheridan, Dylan Hall, Billy Priestley, Angus Twigley, Quinn Collard, Genesis Bartlett-Tamatea, Niko Lauti, Tee Paenga, Braedyn Grant, Moses Tamatea. Reserves: Sione Mafileo, Konnor Gibson, De-Villa Pirihi-Coutts, Tuhakia Stewart, Michael Fox, Sam Middleton.

POVERTY BAY U16s: Edward Fili-Weti, Reef Roberts, Moko Kiwara, Fano Tolu, Te Kauri Waitoa, Adam Whibley, Amos Roberts (co-captain), Henare Brooking, Jordan Christie, Caleb Te Whare, Lyric Baty-Akurangi, Manaakiao Maxwell, Poumana Gemmell (cc), Te Aotahi Tuhaka, Bryan Howard. Reserves: Cobus Kleynhans, Max Briant, Noah Totoro, Tuteari Te Rauna-Lamont, Von Huata.