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After a slow start to the Heartland Championship where they lost their first three matches, Poverty Bay improved as the season went on to earn four victories in their final six matches. The final round robin march against Thames Valley was the defining moment of the season as the 36-35 win meant both teams finished level on 20 points, but Poverty Bay finished eighth due to winning the match to claim the last spot for the Lochore Cup.

The mobile forward pack was well led by 21-year-old captain James Grogan who was a very lively flanker and always in the thick of things. Continuing on from last year, Siosiua Moala was again an outstanding performer on both attack and defence at number eight. They received good support in the loose forward department from Willis Tamatea until his injury.

Everard Reid was the main lineout winner and also made a solid contribution in the tight work, while at the age of 36 Sione Ngatu continued to increase his appearance record and serve his union well.

At fullback Ethine Reeves was the star of the backline. He showed plenty of attacking enterprise in every match, was a very capable defender, which he showed an the King Country match, and kicked goals as well. Andrew Tauatevalu, a 20-year-old wing, showed promise in the seven matches he played with five tries and some good goal-kicking.

There was not much between the two first five-eighths Kelvin Smith and Jake Holmes with both able in taking on the line, while Mario Counsell established himself as the number one halfback in the second half of the season with some fine displays.

Of last year’s regulars Kieran Short (overseas), Isaia Leach (Tasman) and Tamati Samuels (Hawke’s Bay) had moved on, although Leach did return as a loan player until injured, while Ken Houkamau, Murray Hewson and Geoff Pari were not favoured by the new coach Mana Otai.

Higher honours went to:

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

2017 Results

21 Oct, 2:30 pm	A		Mid Canterbury	S/F Lochore Cup	56 - 22
14 Oct, 2:30 pm	A		Thames Valley	Heartland Championship	34 - 35
07 Oct, 2:30 pm	H		King Country	Heartland Championship	43 - 29
30 Sep, 2:30 pm	A		North Otago	Heartland Championship	34 - 12
23 Sep, 2:30 pm	H		West Coast	Heartland Championship	36 - 19
16 Sep, 2:30 pm	H		East Coast	Heartland Championship	35 - 15
09 Sep, 2:30 pm	A		Wanganui	Heartland Championship	25 - 14
02 Sep, 2:30 pm	H		Horowhenua-Kapiti	Heartland Championship	05 - 39
26 Aug, 2:30 pm	A		Mid Canterbury	Heartland Championship	34 - 05
12 Aug, 2:30 pm	H		Wairarapa Bush	Pre-Season	31 - 06
03 Jun, 2:30 pm	H		East Coast	Pre-Season	38 - 23

2014 Players

	Name		Position	Height	Weight	PL
	Semisi Akana		Lock	n/a	n/a	10
	Jody Allen		Prop	n/a	n/a	6
	Mekepio Brown		Lock	n/a	n/a	8
	Jacob Cook		Lock	190	100	9
	Mario Counsell		Halfback	156	80	11
	Ratu Daurua		Midfield	180	90	3
	Jesse Fleming		Centre	n/a	n/a	7
	James Grogan		Loose Forward	183	98	10
	Willie Grogan		Halfback	181	86	11
	George Halley		Wing	n/a	n/a	3
	Tamanui Hill		Flanker/No.8	n/a	n/a	11
	Leslie Hills		Lock/Loose Forward	197	100	9
	Sandy Hohipa-Campbell		Prop	n/a	n/a	6
	Jake Holmes		First Five	178	76	11
	Tipuna Jones		Centre/Wing	n/a	n/a	1
	Anthony Karauria		Centre	n/a	n/a	9
	Brody Lam		Wing	n/a	n/a	6
	Isaia Leach		Hooker	177	95	3
	Alesana Leatio'o		Prop	n/a	n/a	2
	Korey Love		Fullback	n/a	n/a	2
	Mike MacDonald		Centre	n/a	n/a	1
	Karl MacPherson		Wing	n/a	n/a	7
	Matekairoa McGuire		Hooker	n/a	n/a	5
	Siosiua Moala		Loose Forward	188	106	10
	Efoti Moimoi		Flanker	n/a	n/a	1
	Sione Ngatu		Flanker/No.8, Prop	186	115	11
	Ethine Reeves		Fullback	160	80	8
	Everard Reid		Lock/Flanker	195	112	9
	Pamona Samupo		Wing	n/a	n/a	1
	Kelvin Smith		Fullback/Wing	n/a	n/a	11
	Tawhao Stewart		Centre	n/a	n/a	7
	William Tamatea		Loose Forward	196	105	8
	Andrew Tauatevalu		Wing/Center	n/a	n/a	7
	Jody Tuhaka		Hooker/Prop	n/a	n/a	1
	Isaia Vuki		First Five	181	86	6
	Ricky Waitoa		Lock	n/a	n/a	1
	Fawn White		Flanker	n/a	n/a	8
	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—