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Poverty Bay enjoyed good wins over teams below it on the ladder but struggled against the regular Meads Cup finalists. A lack of depth in local rugby, there being only five senior teams, forced the coach to recruit some talent from other unions and also from Gisborne Boys’ High School.

Loose forward Sione Ngatu was again outstanding and played his 100th game during the season. Murray Hewson was the team’s player of the year, an experienced player who locked the scrum with either Josese Bolabasaga or Jason Tuapawa. Hooker Henry Yortt, number eight Andrew Gardner, and halfback Adam Ross, all from Hawke’s Bay, were valuable acquisitions.

Gardner was the Origin player. Jone Lesi showed promise at prop, so too did schoolboy Toa Halafihi on the flank. 20-year-old Josh Hart was from England.

Scott Leighton was again captain: the 35-year-old has been a grand contributor to Poverty Bay rugby since 2004 when he was loaned from Wellington before deciding to live in Gisborne. Paula Tikomainaivalu was a strong runner at centre and at fullback Kelvin Smith continues to improve. Moss Doran had a good first season in midfield. Other backs to appear regularly were David Philander, Sione Tupa, Pamona Samupo, Nick Wilson and Brad Turei. Philander is a Namibian international who visited Gisborne during his team’s stay there during the RWC and chose to return. Wilson had represented Mid Canterbury in 2011.

Higher honours went to:

New Zealand Heartland:        S.Ngatu

2012 Results

20 Oct, 2:30 pm	A		Buller	S/F Lochore Cup	42 - 22
13 Oct, 2:30 pm	H		East Coast	Heartland Championship	14 - 24
06 Oct, 2:30 pm	A		Thames Valley	Heartland Championship	29 - 56
29 Sep, 2:30 pm	H		South Canterbury	Heartland Championship	33 - 52
22 Sep, 2:30 pm	A		North Otago	Heartland Championship	24 - 23
15 Sep, 2:30 pm	H		West Coast	Heartland Championship	31 - 13
08 Sep, 2:30 pm	A		Wanganui	Heartland Championship	42 - 03
01 Sep, 2:30 pm	H		Wairarapa Bush	Heartland Championship	21 - 48
25 Aug, 2:30 pm	A		Horowhenua-Kapiti	Heartland Championship	15 - 31
11 Aug, 2:30 pm	A		Wairarapa Bush	Pre-Season	46 - 14
02 Jun, 2:30 pm	A		East Coast	Pre-Season	27 - 42

2012 Players

	Name		Position	Height	Weight	PL
	Juston Allen		Lock/Flanker	n/a	n/a	0
	Josese Bolabasaga		Lock	n/a	n/a	10
	Richard Brown		Halfback	n/a	n/a	4
	Russell Burns		Hooker/Prop	177	110	5
	Campbell Chrisp		Prop	n/a	n/a	8
	Hikanui Curtis		Prop	n/a	n/a	2
	Moss Doran		Center	N/A	N/A	10
	Andrew Gardner		No. 8	n/a	n/a	9
	S.Toa Halafihi		Loose Forward	n/a	n/a	4
	Joshua Hart		Flanker	n/a	n/a	6
	Murray Hewson		Lock	193	108	11
	Drew Hill		Prop	n/a	n/a	1
	Mangu Kemp		Fullback/Center	n/a	n/a	1
	Scott Leighton		First Five	n/a	n/a	11
	Jone Lesi		Prop	n/a	n/a	11
	Jonte Lexmond		Wing	n/a	n/a	2
	Tevita Maka		Loose Forward	n/a	n/a	9
	Anthony Joshua McAtamney		Center	n/a	n/a	1
	Jed Miller		Hooker	n/a	n/a	4
	Efoti Moimoi		Flanker	n/a	n/a	2
	Sione Ngatu		Flanker/No.8, Prop	186	115	10
	Ben Payne		Flanker	n/a	n/a	1
	David Philander		Wing/Fullback	n/a	n/a	8
	Jared Proffit		Prop	n/a	n/a	1
	Adam Ross		Halfback	n/a	n/a	6
	Pamona Samupo		Wing	n/a	n/a	9
	Jacob Te Ata Smith		Halfback	n/a	n/a	1
	Kelvin Smith		Fullback/Wing	n/a	n/a	10
	William Tamatea		Loose Forward	196	105	1
	Paulo Tikomainaivalu		Center/Wing	n/a	n/a	10
	Jason Tuapawa		Lock	n/a	n/a	11
	Jody Tuhaka		Hooker/Prop	n/a	n/a	1
	Sione Tupa		Center	n/a	n/a	11
	Brad Turei		Fullback	n/a	n/a	7
	Simon Versteeg		Prop	n/a	n/a	10
	Beaudein Waaka		First Five	n/a	n/a	1
	Caleb West		Wing	n/a	n/a	2
	Dean Williams		First Five, Halfback	n/a	n/a	2
	Nicholas Wilson		Center	n/a	n/a	10
	Henry Yortt		Hooker	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—