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Having won the Lochore Cup in 2006 and 2007 it was expected that Poverty Bay would have been sufficiently prepared to step up and compete for the Meads Cup. After suffering early season losses to Bay of Plenty Development (24-41) and to a Hawke’s Bay XV (0-96) the team showed real character in containing Auckland in the Ranfurly Shield challenge. Unfortunately injury to lock Murray Hewson, and the departure overseas of some players soon afterwards, forced coach Paul Feeney to reorganize his squad. Pre-competition wins over Wairarapa Bush and Waikato Development (20-14) suggested combinations were coming right but Meads Cup hopes crashed when King Country, Mid Canterbury and Wanganui inflicted defeats on successive Saturdays.

Turning their attention to the Lochore Cup Poverty Bay then completed the season undefeated and took the trophy for the third year. But there were anxious moments during the semi-final when South Canterbury scored near full-time to level the score 30-30 requiring an extra ten minutes each way to produce a winner. A dropped goal by Leighton after two minutes was followed by tries to Matanibucaka and Knox, thus sinking South Canterbury’s aspirations.

The key player again was the backline general, and captain, Scott Leighton. He was well supported by experienced players Ian Logan, James Warren, Jamie Hutana, Colin Hovell, Chris Bell, Brent Ingram and Sione Ngatu. But it was the newcomers who impressed most and who made large impacts as the season unfolded. Number eight Michael Broadhurst and midfield back Coll Campbell were outstanding and were rewarded with Heartland honours. Charlie Ngatai returned from NZ Schools duty to make his mark in the final by scoring two tries. His future will be watched with interest. Whaimotu Craft-Chemis showed speed on the wing scoring six tries. Kele Bolatagane was a lively halfback and Michael Mayhew, a hooker from North Harbour, was a valuable acquisition. Willis Tamatea seized the locking vacancy left by Hewson and won the award for best and fairest player.

Higher honours went to:

New Zealand Heartland:       Broadhurst, Campbell, Leighton

2008 Results

25 Oct, 2:30 pm	H		Horowhenua-Kapiti	Final Lochore Cup	26 - 05
18 Oct, 2:30 pm	H		South Canterbury	S/F Lochore Cup	43 - 30
11 Oct, 2:30 pm	A		Horowhenua-Kapiti	Heartland Championship	18 - 36
04 Oct, 2:30 pm	H		Wairarapa Bush	Heartland Championship	24 - 08
27 Sep, 2:30 pm	H		South Canterbury	Heartland Championship	19 - 15
20 Sep, 2:30 pm	A		East Coast	Heartland Championship	00 - 45
13 Sep, 2:30 pm	H		Thames Valley	Heartland Championship	43 - 10
06 Sep, 2:30 pm	A		Wanganui	Heartland Championship	36 - 16
30 Aug, 2:30 pm	H		Mid Canterbury	Heartland Championship	13 - 26
23 Aug, 2:30 pm	A		King Country	Heartland Championship	18 - 00
09 Aug, 2:30 pm	A		Wairarapa Bush	Pre-Season	06 - 19
04 Jul, 2:30 pm	H		Auckland	Ranfurly Shield	03 - 54

2008 Players

	Name		Position	Height	Weight	PL
	C.R.H.Bell		Lock	n/a	n/a	10
	K.Bolatagane		Halfback	n/a	n/a	12
	M.J.Broadhurst		No. 8	n/a	n/a	10
	H.Brown		Prop	n/a	n/a	5
	Russell Burns		Hooker/Prop	177	110	1
	A.C.Campbell		Center	n/a	n/a	8
	A.J.Clarke		First Five	n/a	n/a	2
	D.Cornwall		Wing	n/a	n/a	12
	W.Craft-Chemis		Center	n/a	n/a	9
	A.R.Cribb		Hooker	n/a	n/a	1
	T.Duckworth		No. 8	n/a	n/a	7
	Alani Fonohema		Flanker	n/a	n/a	2
	Lloyd Gabriel		Hooker	n/a	n/a	1
	Murray Hewson		Lock	193	108	1
	Colin J.K. Hovell		Prop	n/a	n/a	9
	Jamie.B.Hutana		Prop	n/a	n/a	10
	Brent Ingram		Flanker	n/a	n/a	10
	Mangu Kemp		Fullback/Center	n/a	n/a	3
	Q.D.King		Flanker	n/a	n/a	1
	Clayton Kiwara		First Five	n/a	n/a	5
	W.J.Knox		Prop	n/a	n/a	9
	Puna Latu		Flanker	n/a	n/a	9
	S.K.Leach		Wing/Fullback	n/a	n/a	7
	Scott Leighton		First Five	n/a	n/a	10
	I.G.Logan		Center	n/a	n/a	12
	D.MacPherson		Flanker	n/a	n/a	1
	Tevita Maka		Loose Forward	n/a	n/a	9
	A.Matanibucaka		Lock	n/a	n/a	12
	M.Mayhew		Hooker	n/a	n/a	10
	C.J.Ngatai		Fullback	n/a	n/a	3
	Sione Ngatu		Flanker/No.8, Prop	186	115	12
	M.Sole		Prop	n/a	n/a	12
	Kahu Tamatea		First Five/Fullback	n/a	n/a	1
	Waiti Tamatea		Center	n/a	n/a	1
	William Tamatea		Loose Forward	196	105	10
	C.Te Rito		Center	n/a	n/a	1
	Ratu.S.Vosaki		Wing	n/a	n/a	4
	T.G.Walsh		Center	n/a	n/a	5
	James Warren		Center	n/a	n/a	10
	J.Willoughby		Center	n/a	n/a	1

We hope you enjoy this look back as we look forward to many more years of recording the history of Poverty Bay Rugby Football Union.
We acknowledge all the information from the NZ “Rugby Almanack” Series from 1934 and appreciate their hard and dedicated work in providing this detailed history. – Web Admin—