Deserved? Despite trailing 22-17 with three minutes to go, coach Mana Otai’s men refused to concede defeat.
Deserved? After levelling the scores through an unconverted try and with the clock ticking down, the Bay were not prepared to settle for a share of the points.
Deserved? With less than one minute remaining the call went out from the senior players in the side that they wanted the win.
“It was the perfect start, result-wise — a win at home and a bonus point,” skipper and hooker Tamanui Hill said.
Flattering? Until those frenetic last three minutes it looked like the Bush were going to spoil the party.
“I’m deflated,” Bush coach Joe Harwood said. “We worked so hard to get into a winning position but just couldn’t get our hands on the ball in those last few minutes.
“Full credit to the Bay. They refused to give in and got the rewards.”
The visitors stunned the home side in the first minute when right wing Tristan Flutey scored a try after some non-existent tackling that included an attempt by Bay matchwinner Fairlie.
However, Fairlie rose to the challenge and went on to have his best game in a Bay jersey. He was always a danger on attack and solid in defence.
He and right wing Andrew Tauatevalu troubled the Bush defence every time they had possession.
After 11 minutes, the Bay hit the front through a try to first five-eighth Kelvin Smith, who over 80 minutes won the battle of the No.10s.
Torrance-Reid started the move when he won clean lineout ball, before fullback Ethine Reeves charged towards the line.
Smith timed his run to perfection to split the defence and score under the posts. Reeves converted.
Six minutes later, Fairlie stretched the lead with a try in the corner following good work from Torrance-Reid, halfback Mario Counsell, Reeves and Smith.
Reeves landed a superb sideline conversion to give the Bay a 14-5 lead after 17 minutes.
With both teams willing to run the ball and give it plenty of air, it wasn’t long before the Bush closed the gap with a try to hooker Nicholas Hohepa after a drive following a five-metre lineout.
First-five Glen Walters converted.
Both teams then had tryscoring opportunities but good work in defence, or a lack of patience on attack, meant the gap stayed at two points as the teams left the field at the end of the first half.
Four minutes into the last 40, Walters took advantage of weak tackling to score and converted to put his side 19-14 ahead.
A yellow card to Bay openside flanker Callum McDonald in the 49th minute could have proved costly for the Bay but, apart from a Walters penalty in the 56th minute, the 14 men held firm, with Reeves kicking a penalty.
When McDonald returned it was the Bush’s turn to defend.
As the game seemed to be slipping away from the Bay, Otai went to the bench, bringing on halfback Willy Grogan, hooker Shayde Skudder, No.8 Jesse Kapene, right wing Korey Love, lock Sam McDell, loosehead prop Toru Noanoa and midfield back Matt Raleigh.
All made impacts, particularly the feisty Grogan, who sparked up the forwards and the backs.
Grogan had a hand in Andrew Petelo’s try after the Bay were awarded a kickable penalty. Grogan took a quick tap, passed to Kapene, who offloaded to Petelo, who grounded the ball in the corner.
Reeves failed to add the conversion that would have given the Bay the lead.
With Wairarapa taking a quick restart, it was obvious they were looking for referee Nick Briant to award a penalty.
“That was the worry,” Hill said. “But the boys were amped and really wanted to go for the win.”
Although not on the scoresheet, Counsell, centre Jesse Fleming and second-five Mapa Tuipulotu played their parts in the win.
A big bonus was the performance of the tight five — props Campbell Chrisp (celebrating his 42nd appearance and being awarded his blazer after the match) and Petelo, hooker Hill and locks Torrance-Reid and Jacob Cook.
“We’re building a good rapport with each other and we’ve got a great loose trio — Callum McDonald, Fawn White and No.8 Ken Houkamau,” Hill said.
“I’m proud of the boys today. We know there’s a lot of work to do but to get a win first up is great.”
Poverty Bay 27 (Kelvin Smith, Te Peehi Fairlie 2, Andrew Petelo tries; Ethine Reeves 2 con, pen) Wairarapa Bush 22 (T Flutey, N Hohepa, G Walters tries; Walters 2 con, pen).
Other week 1 results: King Country 75 Ngati Porou East Coast 17, Wanganui 21 South Canterbury 10, Mid Canterbury 30 Horowhenua Kapiti 24, Thames Valley 25 West Coast 27, North Otago 30 Buller 24.
