The visitors scored the next two tries on Memorial Park’s artificial turf and came within striking distance of their opponents, with enough time to overhaul them, and nearly got the job done.
Cairns said replacement back Kelvin Smith was ruled to be in touch when he looked to score a try in the corner, but it was a contentious call.
A late try for Wairarapa Bush sealed the match.
“We were right in the fight,” Cairns said.
“We played most of the rugby in the second half.”
Cairns said clear messages were delivered at halftime and captain Ken Houkamau led the team’s turnaround.
With a win and three losses, Contract Consultants Poverty Bay have sometimes looked better than their eighth position on the Heartland Championship ladder.
They have scored a lot of points in all their losses — their lowest tally in a loss being 29.
It didn’t help the Bay when they lost new fullback Beaudein Waaka to the sin-bin midway through the first half for a knock-on ruled deliberate.
Wairarapa Bush scored tries after 12 minutes, then 18, 22 and 27 minutes, to go out to their 26-0 lead.
Cairns said Reeves carried the ball powerfully and made several line breaks.
Poverty Bay were down 26-7 at halftime but hooker Rikki Terekia bulldozed his way to a try just after the break and Waaka scored a “beautiful try” about 10 minutes later.
Halfback Willy Grogan was strong defensively and Houkamau “played tough right through”.
Poverty Bay closed the gap to 26-21 when Waaka scored his converted try but Wairarapa Bush pushed out the margin to eight points with a penalty goal two minutes later.
Poverty Bay slotted their own penalty and, with 10 minutes left to play, they were again within striking distance.
However, Wairarapa Bush scored a try just before fulltime and, though the Bay answered with a try to replacement utility back Matt Raleigh, the game was gone.
Poverty Bay earned two competition bonus points — one for a narrow loss and another for scoring four tries.
They stay at eighth on the points table, just behind Mid Canterbury, who are their opponents this week.
Wairarapa Bush improved from sixth to fourth on the ladder.
“For us, we need to be more clinical,” Cairns said.
“Our start wasn’t good.
“We had too many turnovers.”
Cairns said they showed promising signs on attack but the finishing wasn’t quite there.
Ueta Tufuga scored the crucial late try for Wairarapa Bush after a 60-metre dash and their coach Joe Harwood said he was one of their better players.
Harwood said his team got off to a good start and then “fell asleep”.
“We went away from what was working well.”
Harwood said whichever team held on to the ball for long periods tended to come away with points.
He said the game felt similar to their encounter with King Country the previous weekend, where it ended up tight but Wairarapa Bush got five competition points out of it.
“I’ve certainly got a lot more grey hairs after that.”
Wairarapa Bush had three sets of brothers in their side. The Tufuga quartet — captain Kirk, Ueta, Sam and Max — were joined by Tim and Alex Priest, and Tristan and Logan Flutey.
Alex Priest and Logan Flutey made their debuts off the substitutes bench.
Harwood said the game was played in warm conditions and it was a good day for running rugby.
Poverty Bay had a big forward pack and flair in the backs, he said.
Waaka was classy at fullback and looked dangerous, Harwood said.
Poverty Bay’s next game is at home, against Mid Canterbury at Rugby Park on Saturday.
WAIRARAPA BUSH 36 (Ueta Tufuga 2, BJ Campbell, Kirk Tufuga, Tipene Haira tries; Tim Priest pen, 4 con).
POVERTY BAY 31 (Ethine Reeves, Rikki Terekia, Beaudein Waaka, Matt Raleigh tries; Andrew Tauatevalu 2 con, Kelvin Smith pen, con, Waaka con).
HT: 26-7 (Wairarapa Bush).
