Whanganui prove too strong

TRYSCORER: Dan Law (centre) was one of two Poverty Bay tryscorers when he drove over the line from the back of the maul in their 65-12 Heartland campaign loss. He is pictured in Poverty Bay’s game against Ngati Porou East Coast this year, with lifters Keanu Taumata and Juston Allen. Picture by Paul Rickard

A rampaging Whanganui was too strong for Poverty Bay, who opened their season with a 65-12 away loss. The Civil Project Solutions Poverty Bay team was unable to generate momentum under the crushing weight of the Whanganui pressure as they were beaten across the paddock.

Poverty Bay co-coach Miah Nikora called the game a tough day at the office. He was in the midst of reviewing footage of the game and said the team wasn't able to get started in the early stages.

“I'm 15 minutes in, and we can't get past three phases once. We can't build any pressure.”

Whanganui put Poverty Bay, despite their best efforts, under pressure at the setpiece and was able to play the territory game on the back of their control, said Nikora.

A strong Whanganui forward pack starved Poverty Bay of clean ball from the ruck and at scrums, hindering their attacking potential. And with Poverty Bay on the back foot, the Whanganui backline made a statement going forward into the Heartland season.

Poverty Bay stayed with Whanganui early, but when the home team cleaned up their mistakes, it was predominantly one-way traffic.

The question going into the game was if Poverty Bay were going to be able to shut down the backline of Whanganui, but explosive centre Kameli Kuruyabaki exposed holes in the defence on the way to two tries.

Poverty Bay did have moments of control, when in the first half fullback Andrew Tauatevalu stepped off his right foot and through a gap, reaching out to score, making the score 17-5 and keeping his side in the hunt.

Nikora said Tauatevalu was a standout for Poverty Bay. In his 30th game (earning his blazer), he “played his guts out” for the team and helped them escape a number of sticky situations from the back.

The team's only other points came from a converted try to lock Dan Law, who took the lineout reception before peeling off and wrapping around to the back of the maul to carry the ball over the line.

Law's try six minutes into the second half was the only real highlight of Poverty Bay's second half. Poverty Bay could not take advantage of the crisp breeze at their backs in the first half, and with the help of the wind, Whanganui took over in the second stanza and scored at a rate of almost a point-a-minute.

As time started to wind down, Poverty Bay started to take more chances but were punished for attacking from within their own half with an intercept try to Kuruyabaki.

Poverty Bay's frustration boiled over late in the game when reserve winger Penikolo Latu received a yellow card for a high tackle trying to close down a linebreak close to the line.

Nikora said he doesn't think the result will be an indicator for the rest of the season. They came into the game on the back of a “good build-up” but were beaten by the better team.

“There are a few things to iron out this week, but it's not panic stations,” he said.

The result leaves Poverty Bay still searching for their first win over Whanganui in the Heartland competition era, which started 15 years ago.

With a reduced season that sees no semi-finals for the first time in the competition's history, every round-robin game counts and Poverty Bay will have to fight hard if they want to stay in contention for finals football.

Poverty Bay 12 (Andrew Tauatevalu, Dan Law tries; Kelvin Smith con) Whangani 65 (Kameli Kuruyabaki 2, Josaia Bogileka, Semi Vodosese, Lindsay Horrocks, Campbell Hart, Viki Tofa, Alekesio Vakarorogo, Peceli Malanicagi tries; Dane Whale 2 pen, 5 con, C Clare 2 con)

HT: 27-5

Round 1

Ngati Porou East Coast 31 (Sam Parkes 2T, Te Manu Herewini T, Te Rangi Fraser T, PG, 4 CNVS) McKewen Petroleum North Otago 38 (Jake Matthews 2T, Sam Sturgess T, Tony Taufa T, Mathew Duff T, Abel Magalogo T, PG, 3CNVS) - HT NPEC 24 NO 17.