The pressure was on Poverty Bay early when their playmaker, centre Penekolo Latu, was yellow-carded with the score 14-5 to the Bay.
They had opened up an early lead after an intercept try from first five-eighth Kelvin Smith, who also kicked the conversion, and a strong run close to the line from flanker Stefan Destounis.
King Country had got on the board through winger Kody McGovern.
Both Destounis and Smith had excellent games for Poverty Bay. Smith was fantastic with the boot, consistently shaving off metres in every kicking exchange, something that King Country looked to have incorporated into their game plan.
Co-coach Miah Nikora said that Smith showed great character in the way he responded to last weekend’s experience, where he missed a penalty when the Bay were down by two points with time up.
Destounis, who scored two first-half tries before having to come off the field injured, had quickly become one of their most consistent players, Nikora said.
After a shaky start, Poverty Bay were able to start laying some consistent pressure on their opponents and were rewarded for their efforts.
They had extended their lead to 33-5 by halftime after the loose-forward trio of flankers Destounis and Keanu Taumata and No. 8 Tamanui Hill all crossed to secure their team the bonus point.
In the second half, the teams seemed to feel the effects of the heat.
Despite this, both teams still scored some fantastic tries.
King Country had a strong start to the second half. A stunning blindside attack with fantastic interplay and offloads between forwards and backs resulted in lock Bradly Jeffries scoring.
Poverty Bay answered quickly through prop Toru Noanoa after a strong attack in the King Country 22.
Winger Tione Hubbard then stole the show with the try of the match.
From a turnover, Smith put in a great kick that put King Country on the back foot. Two bad bounces of the ball had King Country players falling over themselves, and Hubbard kicked the ball on.
Just as visiting halfback Nathaniel Smith was about to dive on the ball and kill the play, it took another awkward bounce into the path of Hubbard. He kicked the ball on again, then dribbled it between his feet, caught it when it popped up and scored between the posts.
The teams traded tries to round out the game, with replacement hooker Rikki Terekia scoring for Poverty Bay.
King Country managed a consolation try in the 77th minute to replacement winger Jesse Douglas.
Nikora said he was happy with the result and the team earning five competition points to stay in contention for finals rugby.
The team would still have things to work on, primarily their discipline, he said.
“There were a few issues early on. We struggled to get our hands on the ball for the first 15 or 20 minutes of the game, but the pleasing thing was the boys tidied that up.”
Nikora wanted to congratulate Toru Noanoa and Andrew Tauatevalu on being presented with their blazers for playing 30 games for Poverty Bay. Noanoa earned his with Saturday’s game and Tauatevalu earned his against Whanganui in the first game of the season, but presentation of the blazer was held over until family members could be present.
It was a special day for King Country’s Dunster family too. Father Aarin and son Cruise both took the field. It was just the fourth time a father-son duo had played first-class rugby. Aarin’s nephew Maximus also played.
Next weekend Poverty Bay travel south to play Mid Canterbury, who sit one point ahead of them on the table before they return to Rugby Park the following weekend for the local derby against Ngati Porou East Coast.
Poverty Bay 50 (Stefan Destounis 2, Kelvin Smith, Tamanui Hill, Keanu Taumata, Toru Noanoa, Tione Hubbard, Rikki Terekia tries; Smith 4 con, Paoraian Manuel-Harman con).
King Country 26 (Kody McGovern, Bradly Jeffries, Mike Bryant, Jesse Douglas tries; Johnny Ika 3 con).
Halftime: 33-5.
