Former Poverty Bay player and former HSOB captain Poole said Jody Tuhaka (prop and current skipper), Matekairoa McGuire (hooker) and prop Isi Pofele played well in the forwards, while centre Andrew Tauatevalu was always dangerous on attack.
“Jody has had an outstanding season for us,” Poole said.
“Korey Love (fullback), playing his 52nd game for the club, was another who played well before getting a shoulder injury.”
Athletic coach Jimmy Whaitiri said his team were always going to be up against it after losing three first-team regulars.
“The boys gave it everything they had, as they have done all season,” he said.
“Unfortunately that’s not enough when you’re playing a team as good as HSOB.”
¦ Roseland Tavern Tapuae were also on the wrong end of a heavy loss, going down 72-7 to Larsawn Ngatapa in Wairoa.
Backs Anthony Karauria and Matt Raleigh helped themselves to try hat-tricks while co-coach Sione Ngatu (prop/No.8) bagged two tries as Ngatapa prepared for a date with YMP in the semifinal.
“It was a good hit-out under the circumstances surrounding Tapaue (two people with close links to the club died in a motor accident eight days before),” co-coach David McDonald said.
Tapuae skipper and front-rower Wayne Hema said they had Ngatapa under pressure at various stages.
“But every time we turned the ball over it was, ‘See you later’,” he said.
McDonald agreed.
“They started well but once we got our hands on the ball we had too much pace out wide,” he said.
“A major plus for us was that no one was injured.”
HSOB 61 (I Pofele, I Toleafoa, V Kavai, G Halley, T Henare, R Tuwairua-Brown, A Tauatevalu, B Mackay, K Lloyd tries; C Reihana 4, A Tauatevalu 3, V Kavai conversions).
Athletic 8 (J Bright try; K Taylor pen).
Ngatapa 72 (A Karauria 3, M Raleigh 3, S Ngatu 2, O Sanerivi, A Twigley, M Yanz, J Law tries; L Crudis 6 con).
TapuaE 7 (S Brown try; C Carroll con).
