Tough times for district's u16 teams

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RUGBY

To the end, the hard way — that’s how the Poverty Bay under-16s finished at the Hurricanes Youth Rugby Council tournament. Manawatu beat the Bay 62-10, for third place in Division A. The Bay finished fourth.

“It was a better effort from the 17 boys we had available,” said Poverty Bay captain and openside flanker Amos Roddick.

Manawatu right wing Reif Dawson opened the scoring in the minute. His try was converted by first-five-cum-fullback Carlos Kemp. Manawatu captain and starting fullback Terrence Graham scored next, followed by second-five Kyle Brown. With Kemp’s conversion, the score was 19-0.

In the 19th minute, Poverty Bay first-five Nic Proffit kicked a penalty for the Bay.

Another try by Dawson, converted by Kemp, gave Manawatu a 26-3 lead at the break.

Manawatu left wing Tavita Henare-Schuster scored, followed by his captain and openside flanker Elyjah Crosswell. Graham converted Crosswell’s try for 38-3. Henare-Schuster scored again; Graham converted. Hooker Beaudene Wheeler, blindside flanker Sheldon Tarea and lock Anaru Haerata then scored, with Graham converting Haerata’s try.

In the 64th minute, Poverty Bay No.8 and player of the day Kitini Taihuka scored the last try of the game, converted by Proffit, to make it 62-10.

Manawatu coach Potene Paewai was struck by the spirit of a team his boys had beaten 74-19 on Tuesday.

“Jordan Christie was very composed at halfback, the openside flanker (Roddick) never stopped tackling, and neither did the hooker (Reef Roberts).”

Roberts carried the ball strongly, a day after the Poverty Bay side’s spirit was highlighted by former All Black lock Dion Waller. Waller compared Poverty Bay’s Bryan Howard — who scored two tries at right wing off the reserves bench in a heavy loss to Wellington — to former All Black flyer Terry Wright.

This is next-level. The East Coast u16s — at one stage in the second half reduced to 13 players by injury — fought hard against Wairarapa-Bush in their last game at the Hurricanes Youth Rugby Council tournament in Masterton yesterday. The Coast lost 58-17 and finished sixth in Division B.

The Coast’s try-scorers were openside flanker Teira Biddle and prop Corban Te Whaiti. Player of the day, captain and first-five Rewiti Fisher converted both tries and kicked a penalty.

For their courage, East Coast won the Manaakitanga Trophy — presented in 2010 by Gisborne artist and associate professor Steve Gibbs — for the first time. It is an award that recognises team culture and sportsmanship, and was won by Poverty Bay in 2011.

Manawatu player of the day and centre Dru Molesi scored two tries, with one try each to loosehead prop Ezra Savea, hooker Felix Blundell, tighthead prop Caedman Hawkins, blindside flanker Tua Toilolo, halfback-cum-fullback Willie Matthews, first-five Amani Karauria-Lunt (also four conversions), right wing Jayden Savea and fullback Jayden Webb-Milner.

East Coast captain Fisher said: “The boys made an exceptional match-effort against a very experienced team; we played to our strengths and gave it all. That’s what im most proud of — the never-say-die attitude of our boys.”