Under direction from Gisborne District Council at 10am on Saturday that council grounds could not be used, the Poverty Bay Rugby Football Union advised teams of venue changes — from the Oval and Te Karaka Domain to the Gisborne Boys' High School Rectory fields and School Park.
All three games ran smoothly with crowds of 300-plus at each ground.
“As we've done all year, we — the union, the clubs, the players, the refs — had to adapt and work together to make rugby happen for our community,” Poverty Bay Rugby Football Union chief executive Josh Willoughby said.
“It was a great start to the season, made even better by the day being dry.”
He thanked Gisborne Boys' High for the use of its facilities.
That only three points separated his crew and OBM in one of local club rugby's greatest rivalries is of small import to HSOB captain Tamanui Hill. His team got what they wanted.
“That was a good win and it meant a lot to us,” said the burly No.8.
HSOB head coach Danny Boyle was proud of the heart his team showed in defence, new and experienced players alike tackling and recovering to make the next tackle. One player displaying such stalwart qualities was debutant openside flanker and HSOB player of the day Callum “Safety” Fawcett.
OBM coach Trevor Crosby saw his team lose 29-17 to YMP on Opening Day in 2019, then go on to win the championship for the first time in 15 years.
“Conditions made the game confrontational and everybody who played would be feeling it now, or will be later on, for sure,” he said.
“There was nothing between the teams and this week we're going to work hard again, to achieve continuity.”
On a windless day and despite overnight rain, Rectory No.2 held up well.
HSOB led 8-5 at halftime, courtesy of the first points of the game — a penalty goal to first five-eighth Baxter Mackay, 19 minutes in — and a try to Hill in the 38th minute.
OBM left wing Hunter Tangira scored to open his team's account in the 34th minute. In the 49th minute, OBM first-five Jake Holmes kicked a penalty, the first points of the second half, to make it 8-8.
Mackay put HSOB ahead, 11-8, with another penalty after 58 minutes and in the 73rd minute, HSOB right wing Tevita Lataipangai (who, 11 minutes after halftime, had been shown the yellow card by referee Royce Maynard) scored in the corner . . . HSOB 16 OBM 8.
Despite a goal-line slide to stop him by Fawcett (who hurt his own right ankle in the attempt), rugged OBM fetcher Nicolas Carrizo scored in the 80th minute. The try was unconverted but the defending champions took a bonus point for the loss within seven points.
HSOB had the better of the penalty count 11-10, while OBM won more scrum-ball (5-4); HSOB took the lineouts 6-5.
In the first 20 minutes of the game, HSOB controlled both field position and possession around OBM's 22 without reward, other than two kicks at goal by Mackay.
During this period, new OBM loosehead prop Tyrone McMillan made his presence felt with the ball in hand.
His teammate, blindside flanker Evan Bryant, also muscled up in both tackle and carry.
OBM vice-captain and fullback Scott McKinley, his side's player of the day, fought hard ”— as did Holmes — to create and utilise gaps.
HSOB No.6 Zane Boyle had a great all-round game — he and lock Fletcher Scammell were key figures in the lineout — while props James Jenkins and Myles Muir-Tawa took the ball up powerfully.
Second-five James Warren's sure tackling against OBM inside-centre Keanu Wainohu-Kemp was one of the game's great individual clashes.
Wainohu-Kemp is a top athlete, classy and skilful, but this was a game in which fewer than five clean breaks were made all up. OBM halfback Braedyn Grant swayed by two defenders off the left touch 63 minutes in.
But tactical kicking was little used. What kicking there was forced only one handling error.
The teams closed each other down for space and, though OBM lost, their second-year captain, lock Jacob Cook, was positive.
“Tyrone and our No.8, Rikki Terekia, ran hard,” he said.
“It was a great contest at the scrum and Keanu got good touches. Now we're on the park, we can also get used to the new rules.
“It was worth the wait.”
