Add Blanco Maka, Tevita Maka, Jody Tuhaka (skipper), Tamanui Hill, Corey Reihana, George Halley, Scott Tallott, Korey Love, Viliami Kavai, Zane Boyle, Andrew Tauatevalu and Scotty Leighton, and HSOB have 15 players who were in the 22-man final squad.
The Green Machine (Larsawn Ngatapa) started the season well and despite picking up injuries were second going into their match against YMP.
The injury toll increased by three at the weekend in a 39-12 loss to YMP.
Lock Scott Brodie lasted two minutes before being knocked out cold in a midfield collision and taken to hospital.
Blindside flanker Alex Chrisp joined Brodie in hospital after tearing tendons in his left ankle.
Halfback and captain Chris Richardson also left the field with a badly bruised ankle.
They join Campbell Chrisp (18 stitches in his hand), hooker Ihaia Kerr (hamstring) and flanker Tom Pepper (shoulder) on the injury list.
Winger Pete Livingston is playing with his left knee heavily strapped, while replacement first five-eighth Lyle Crudis played with an ankle knock and there were some sore bodies after a bruising encounter.
Ngatapa remain third on the table behind YMP. Another loss this weekend would allow HSOB, fifth and 11 points behind Ngatapa, to put the pressure on not only Ngatapa but also OBM.
Enterprise Cars OBM are level with HSOB on 14 points, although OBM, who will be expected to beat Athletic this week, have a game in hand over their top-four rivals.
“The injuries couldn’t have come at a worse time, with two important games coming up (HSOB and Waikohu),” Ngatapa assistant coach David McDonald said.
“We have a week off next week, when Poverty Bay play East Coast, which might help some get back in time for the Waikohu game.
“And we should have Jacob Samuel (flanker, who missed the game against YMP) available this weekend.”
Ngatapa player-coach Sione Ngatu, who would prefer to concentrate on coaching this season, was forced into action at the weekend.
Don’t be surprised to see Ngatu start this week. But even the man who holds the record for most appearances for Poverty Bay (153) may not be able to stop his side from faltering in their quest for a playoff place.
Competition front-runners GT Shearing Waikohu, unbeaten after seven games, welcomed back skipper and hooker Geoff Pari and openside flanker Lynden Manuel in their 46-8 win against Athletic at Te Karaka on Saturday.
Had they both not been injured for the first round, they would have been strong contenders to be included in the Bay squad for the Queen’s Birthday Weekend (June 2) clash at Tolaga Bay.
OBM return to action after their bye last week when they head to Wairoa to play a Tapuae side hurting from their 112-0 loss to HSOB at the Oval on Saturday.
