Poverty Bay coach confident about the big step up

Coach Kiwi Searancke is confident his Poverty Bay side can compete with the best second division teams next season.

The team beat Wairarapa-Bush 37-14 in Saturday's third division final in Gisborne to win promotion next season.

"I know we can say a lot of optimistic things when we've just won but there is a gap between third and second [divisions] and there is another gap between the second and the first if you look at it realistically," Searancke said after the final.

"But if you look at North Otago, they moved up [to second division] and have been among the best teams in the second division last year and this year.

"You've got to use home-grown players and recruit sensibly.

"We've got all these boys [current players] going nowhere next season, which is good for us. So you've got to use them. For us, our home players means a lot of local support and good community spirit. That's one of the things that carried us through today," Searancke said.

"But there will be a need to attract a few good guys to fit into our team."

Poverty Bay had less possession in the first half than Wairarapa-Bush but scored two tries to none to lead 18-9 at halftime.

"People knew we had good backs who could penetrate any defence in the division but our forwards have been working pretty hard and it came through today," Searancke said.

Wairarapa-Bush, through their big pack that included Rob Foreman, Logan Ili, Dylan Higginson and Dan Joblin, locked up possession in mauls and rucks for significant periods but their progress was stifled by a solid Poverty Bay defence and the inability of their backs to penetrate.

In contrast, Poverty Bay moved the ball to attack from anywhere and centre Wade Owen, 20, was one of the key players in their backline.

He was called off the bench after Poverty Bay lost the services of experienced back James Kerr to Italian club L'Aquiala last week.

Owen's father, Richard, the team's manager, was fullback for Poverty Bay the last time they won the final, in 1987.

Owen split the defence several times and had a hand in all three tries, by fullback Semosoni Pone and winger Daniel Moeke.

Next season's second division

* Counties Manukau

* East Coast

* Poverty Bay

* Hawkes Bay

* Wanganui

* Manawatu

* Nelson Bays or Northland

* Marlborough

* North Otago


- NZPA


NPC fixtures, results and standings
Division One | Division Two |