Back to Year by Year Index click here

Poverty Bay won their opening Heartland Championship match against East Coast in good style to reverse the result of the Queen’s Birthday encounter, but then lost the next four games and eventually finished seventh for a Lochore Cup semi-final place. The defeats to King Country (in the round-robin match) and, in particular, Wairarapa Bush were winnable games that slipped away. Despite this, an improvement was made on last year.

A record 50 players was used for the 12-match first-class programme with 23 appearing for the first time. Seventeen players appeared in only the three pre-Heartland matches. Local regulars missing from last year were Tamanui Hill, Kahu Tamatea (both in Bay of Plenty), Leigh Bristowe (Southland), Corban Barbara (England), and Carl Riini (injured).

The outstanding forward was number eight Siosuia Moala, brother of All Black George, having last year played at second five-eighth. He was impressive on both defence and attack, scoring five tries. Everard Reid made a welcome return from Hawke’s Bay and assumed the captaincy. Playing mainly at blindside flanker, he displayed good form. Murray Hewson got better as the season progressed, with he and Reid being good lineout winners. Lively openside flanker James Grogan unfortunately succumbed to injury halfway through the championship. The 130-kg prop Jody Allen arrived and made a difference, returning to the province where he had made his first-class debut in 2006. He was available for only three matches due to recall by North Harbour, and scored five tries. Sione N’gatu set a new’ appearance record for Poverty Bay, ending the season on 138 matches, having given tremendous service to his union since his debut in 2003. Eighteen-year-old Isaiah Leach looked a bright prospect at hooker.

The backline contained four outside players with all making positive contributions. Maia Gibbs was the starting halfback, centre Ratu Daurua was top try scorer with eight, first five-eighth Isaia Vuki topped the points scoring with 86 points, including four tries, and Dan Mclntyre was a quick and elusive fullback. Of the locals, Ethine Reeves was versatile and the only player to appear in all 12 games, while former All Black Rico Gear was available for just one match due to business commitments.

Higher honours went to:

New Zealand Heartland:        S.Moala, E.J. Reid

2016 Results

22 Oct, 2:30 pm	A		King Country	S/F Lochore Cup	48 - 26
15 Oct, 2:30 pm	A		Thames Valley	Heartland Championship	14 - 50
08 Oct, 2:30 pm	H		Wairarapa Bush	Heartland Championship	30 - 32
01 Oct, 2:30 pm	A		West Coast	Heartland Championship	28 - 62
24 Sep, 2:30 pm	H		Wanganui	Heartland Championship	30 - 52
17 Sep, 2:30 pm	A		South Canterbury	Heartland Championship	52 - 28
10 Sep, 2:30 pm	H		Buller	Heartland Championship	18 - 30
03 Sep, 2:30 pm	A		King Country	Heartland Championship	30 - 24
27 Aug, 2:30 pm	H		East Coast	Heartland Championship	54 - 30
13 Aug, 2:30 pm	A		Wairarapa Bush	Pre-Season	26 - 14
04 Jun, 2:30 pm	A		East Coast	Pre-Season	26 - 08
02 May, 2:30 pm	H		N.Z. Universities	Pre-Season	00 - 44

2016 Heartland , Finished 7th, Round Robin
Lost 1st Semi Final, Lochore Cup
Coach: W P Mutu Ngarimu

2016 Players

	Name		Position	PL
	Semisi Akana		Lock	1
	Jody Allen		Prop	3
	Patrick Allen		Lock	1
	James Barnett		Prop	1
	Russell Burns		Hooker/Prop	4
	Campbell Chrisp		Prop	3
	Jacob Cook		Lock	8
	Mario Counsell		Halfback	10
	Ratu Daurua		Midfield	10
	Lance Dickson		Prop	3
	Hamish Forrester		Hooker/Prop	1
	Rico Gear		Centre/Wing	1
	Maia Gibbs		Halfback	8
	Dan Goodwin		Lock	4
	James Grogan		Loose Forward	6
	Willie Grogan		Halfback	7
	George Hailey		Wing	1
	Murray Hewson		Lock	10
	Leslie Hills		Lock/Loose Forward	9
	Jake Holmes		First Five	5
	Conan Houkamau		Forward	7
	Ken Houkamau		Loose Forward	10
	Tipuna Jones		Centre/Wing	1
	Anthony Karauria		Centre	1
	Isaia Leach		Hooker	9
	Jone Lesi		Prop	2
	Lyndon Manuel		Loose Forward	1
	Devonte Martin		Back	6
	Matekairoa McGuire		Hooker	1
	Daniel McIntyre		Fullback	6
	Scott McKinley		Wing	8
	Koro Miringaorangi		Flanker	1
	Tanielu Misikosi		Flanker	8
	Siosiua Moala		Loose Forward	11
	Tau Moeke		Midfield	5
	Sione Ngatu		Flanker/No.8, Prop	10
	Toru Noanoa		Prop	6
	Geoff Pari		Hooker	9
	Ethine Reeves		Fullback	12
	Everard Reid		Lock/Flanker	9
	Cory Reihana		Wing	1
	Cameron Rowden		Halfback	1
	Tamati Samuels		Back	7
	Keiran Short		Midfield	10
	Shayde Skudder		Hooker	1
	Hayden Stuart		First Five	2
	Sione Tamale		Midfield	4
	William Tamatea		Loose Forward	2
	Jody Tuhaka		Hooker/Prop	1
	Isaia Vuki		First Five	10
	Penalty Try			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—