Wairarapa Bush made it two Heartland Championship wins in a row with a 48-21 thumping of Poverty Bay in Gisborne today.
Two late tries to the home side only added respectability to the scoreline because the game was virtually over as a contest at halftimewhen Wairarapa Bush led 27-7. This was only confirmed when the visitors scored three converted tries in a six-minute spell on the hour.
Despite the bonus-point victory, Bush coach Mark Rutene was disappointed, "not with the result but our execution was poor".
"We made some silly mistakes, especially in the first half," said Rutene, who made five changes within five minutes of the second half. "That wasn't to say we thought the game was won. It was more about having confidence in our bench."
Bay coach Grainger Heikell had more reasons to be disappointed than his counterpart. His side conceded three of Bush's six tries from turnover ball and another from an intercept.
Bush first five-eighths Glen Walters opened the scoring from a penalty after nine minutes. Halfback Inia Katia then scored the first of his two tries, with Walters, who converted all six five pointers and two penalties, adding the two points.
The Bay hit back through a try to second five-eighths Moss Doran in the 24th minute but, from the restart, they tried to run the ball from inside their 22 and paid the price when right wing Cameron Hayton intercepted and scored under the posts.
Walters stretched the lead with another penalty before Katia bagged his second try on the stroke of halftime.
The Bay had the better of the second half but were punished as they dropped the ball when in good positions.
Poverty Bay 21 (Moss Doran, David Philander, Jason Tuapawa tries; Scott Leighton 3 cons) Wairarapa Bush 48 (Inia Katia 2, Cameron Hayton, Jesse Gilvary, Johan van Viliet, Nick Olson, tries; Glen Walters 6 cons, 2 pens). HT: 7-27.
