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Poverty Bay produced the best results for many years by finishing top qualifier in Pool B then advancing to the Meads Cup semi-final. Wins over North Otago and Mid Canterbury were pleasing but after suffering a huge 56-0 defeat at the hands of Wanganui in the last Meads Cup round it would have been difficult for coaches Grainger Heikell and Trevor Crosby to lift the team for the rematch the following week for the semi-final. But by finishing third in the Heartland championship Poverty Bay had advanced significantly after being the Lochore Cup holders for three years. The promotion was overdue and they proved Poverty Bay was ready for the stronger grade.

The team played some enterprising rugby particularly fullback Kahu Tamatea, wings John Stewart and Josh Mahoni and centre Wade Owen. Kelemidi Bolatagane was again a fine halfback. Skipper Scott Leighton would have compiled another century of points had he not been ordered off the field in the game against Wairarapa Bush and sidelined for two games. Campbell Te Rito was a good link at second five-eighth. Sam Bunny, Clayton Kiwara and Tawhiri Walsh also made regular appearances.

Sione Ngatu was the outstanding forward and had good support in the loose by Tevita Maka and Brent Ingram. Chris Bell, Murray Hewson and Petelo Piliu were the locks while in the frontrow the experienced Colin Hovell, Jamie Hutana and 19-year-old Matt Gray were the props. Josh Maynard, the union’s Player of Origin, was the hooker. Juston Allen, Ralph Mclnally and Jono Naoupu also appeared regularly.

Higher honours went to:

New Zealand Heartland:       Leighton, Ngatu

2009 Results

24 Oct, 2:30 pm	A		Wanganui	S/F Meads Cup	48 - 13
17 Oct, 2:30 pm	A		Wanganui	Meads Cup	56 - 00
10 Oct, 2:30 pm	H		Horowhenua-Kapiti	Meads Cup	25 - 21
03 Oct, 2:30 pm	H		Wairarapa Bush	Meads Cup	18 - 17
26 Sep, 2:30 pm	A		Thames Valley	Meads Cup	22 - 27
19 Sep, 2:30 pm	H		South Canterbury	Heartland Championship	14 - 16
12 Sep, 2:30 pm	A		Mid Canterbury	Heartland Championship	19 - 24
05 Sep, 2:30 pm	H		North Otago	Heartland Championship	18 - 10
29 Aug, 2:30 pm	A		King Country	Heartland Championship	20 - 26
15 Aug, 2:30 pm	H		Wairarapa Bush	Pre-Season	25 - 14
30 May, 2:30 pm	H		East Coast	Pre-Season	46 - 03

2009 Players

	Name		Position	Height	Weight	PL
	Juston Allen		Lock/Flanker	n/a	n/a	8
	C.R.H.Bell		Lock	n/a	n/a	10
	K.Bolatagane		Halfback	n/a	n/a	9
	J.T.Brooking		Center	n/a	n/a	4
	S.Bunny		Halfback	n/a	n/a	10
	A.R.Cribb		Hooker	n/a	n/a	1
	M.Gray		Prop	n/a	n/a	9
	Willie Haenga		Halfback	n/a	n/a	1
	W.A.Hallgarth		Lock	n/a	n/a	1
	Murray Hewson		Lock	193	108	11
	Colin J.K. Hovell		Prop	n/a	n/a	11
	Jamie.B.Hutana		Prop	n/a	n/a	8
	Brent Ingram		Flanker	n/a	n/a	9
	J.Jefferd		Wing	n/a	n/a	1
	Clayton Kiwara		First Five	n/a	n/a	10
	W.J.Knox		Prop	n/a	n/a	4
	Scott Leighton		First Five	n/a	n/a	9
	J.Mahoni		Wing	n/a	n/a	9
	Tevita Maka		Loose Forward	n/a	n/a	10
	J.B.Maynard		Hooker	n/a	n/a	9
	R.McInally		Hooker	n/a	n/a	11
	J.Naoupu		Loose Forward	n/a	n/a	8
	Sione Ngatu		Flanker/No.8, Prop	186	115	11
	W.S.Owen		Center	n/a	n/a	11
	P.K.Piliu		Lock	n/a	n/a	8
	Anaru Poihipi		Prop	n/a	n/a	1
	J.D.Poole		Lock	n/a	n/a	1
	R.Sayer		Flanker	n/a	n/a	2
	John Stewart		Wing	n/a	n/a	8
	Kahu Tamatea		First Five/Fullback	n/a	n/a	11
	C.Te Rito		Center	n/a	n/a	11
	Ratu.S.Vosaki		Wing	n/a	n/a	3
	T.G.Walsh		Center	n/a	n/a	9

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—