More tough results for Bay and Coast

Poverty Bay No.8 Tamanui Hill in action. Picture by Paul Rickard

IT was another bad weekend for Poverty Bay and Ngati Porou East Coast in the Heartland Championship, with both sides losing. LeaderBrand Poverty Bay lost 36-14 to Buller in Westport while the Coast were beaten 50-32 by competition leaders Mid Canterbury in Timaru.

The Bay started the season with hopes of making the top four (Meads Cup playoffs) after reaching the semifinals last season but are now second-bottom, with only the Coast below them. Bay coach Mutu Ngarimu’s men face a massive task to make the Lochore Cup (fifth to eighth) — with games against Mid Canterbury (1st) Wanganui (third) and South Canterbury (2nd) to complete their campaign.

The Coast continued their mini revival — scoring five tries to earn a bonus point against a Mid Canterbury side chasing their third succesive Meads Cup title.

“We’ve had a settled backline in the past two weeks and showed we can score tries, but we’re still letting too many in,” said Coast coach Willie Waitoa, who was nevertheless pleased with the improvement from his side.

“Mid Canterbury are a class team but we were always in the game until near the end. Their coach (Heartland Championship coach Grant Keenan) came up to congratulate the boys after the game. He was impressed with Kris Palmer (winger), Sam Parkes (halfback) and Lennon Carrington (No.8). Donny Mill (openside flanker), Pera Bishop (prop), who was our forward of the day, and Mita Courtney (midfield), our best back, all played well. We also had three guys making their debuts — Mike Chambers (prop), Reg McClutchie (prop), who came off the bench, and Dylan Evans (lock) — and they held their own.”

Palmer, Carrington, Mill, Mita and fullback Whakarae Henare scored five-pointers for the Coast, with first five-eighth Richard Apanui kicking two conversions and a penalty.

Bay coach Ngarimu, who is Keenan’s assistant for the Heartland Championship side, said the “harsh” sinbinning of blindside flanker Ken Houkamau just before halftime hurt his side.

“We were in the game at that stage, behind 17-14. With us starting the second half a man down, Buller took advantage with a couple of tries and after that we were behind the eight ball.” Ngarimu, who in the past has not taken a pop at referees, said his side got “pinged off the ball”. “I don’t like criticising referees and I’m not blaming him for the loss, but there was no consistency. At one stage he gave Buller seven straight penalties. But at the end of the day you have to get on with it, and we didn’t.”

Ngarimu said No.8 Tamanui Hill continued his good form and was their player of the day. “Muzza (skipper and lock Murray Hewson) and Jake (Paringatai, lock) also put their hands up and some others played well in patches.

“It’s been a rough season, that’s for sure, but we just have to roll the sleves up and prepare for our next game, Mid Canterbury at home.”

Hill and Hewson scored the Bay’s tries, with first five-eighth Ethine Reeves converting both.

Week 5 results — Buller 36 Poverty Bay 14, Mid Canterbury 50 East Coast 32, West Coast 36 Wairarapa Bush 33, Wanganui 17 King Country 17, Horowhenua Kapiti 26 North Otago 22, South Canterbury 35 Thames Valley 19.