Rugby: High flyers Poverty Bay, East Coast on top of pile again

Third Division

Last year's finalists Poverty Bay and East Coast were back on top of the NPC third division competition after impressive victories in the third round.

A strong scrum and the accurate boot of first five-eighths Manu Flutey launched East Coast to a comprehensive 44-12 win over Buller in Westport.

They scored three tries in the last five minutes after the Buller side decided that playing high speed but risky rugby was the only way to catch up or at least to take a point out of the game.

In the process they managed to open play up a bit more but gave away possession, which the defending champions turned into points.

East Coast led 20-5 at halftime.

Flutey converted all five tries and kicked three penalties for 19 points.

In Gisborne, the Poverty Bay pack's inspiring second half paved the way for their 60-13 win over West Coast.

Leading 10-3 at halftime, the Bay forwards wound up their intensity after prop Pene Foutaiki scored a try within three minutes of the restart.

"West Coast defended well in the first 40 but I always felt we could win the game if we got control up front and then spread the ball wide," Poverty Bay coach Brett Fell said.

His backs scored six of their nine tries.

North Otago ground out their first win in the competition, beating Wairarapa Bush 19-14 in Masterton.

The visitors exacted revenge for their opening-round loss to Wairarapa Bush in Oamaru, basing their victory on superior option-taking in the difficult conditions.

Horowhenua-Kapiti first five-eighths Kyle Williams had a horror day, missing nine out of 10 shots at goal as his team tumbled 13-16 to South Canterbury.

In next Saturday's matches, South Canterbury are at home to East Coast, Poverty Bay should be too strong for Buller at home, Wairarapa Bush have another home match, against West Coast, and North Otago play Horowhenua-Kapiti at Oamaru.

- NZPA