The Civil Project Solutions Poverty Bay Weka scored three tries and 17 unanswered points in the second half of their last Bunnings Warehouse Heartland Championship game of the season against the Mid-Canterbury Hammers, the hosts having gone to the break ahead 47-7.
The Meads Cup-bound Hammers beat the Bay 47-24, their 14th win in 21 games against the Weka — as the fourth-placed team, they now face the three-time defending Meads Cup champions South Canterbury, who have won a record 39 games in a row, in the 1 vs 4 semifinal at 3.35pm at Fraser Park in Timaru this Saturday.
The Miah Nikora-coached Weka scored four tries at the weekend, finishing their campaign with six competition points.
This was their first winless season in the Championship since it began in 2006, and though they ended 2013 in 12th place — with six points — that Sione Ngatu-led side beat King Country 19-18 at Te Kuiti in their last outing.
Only Ngāti Porou East Coast, in 2008, 2014 and 2017, have not taken a Heartland Championship point in a winless season.
“At halftime, we asked for more effort and fight — we wanted to leave the field and finish the game and the season with our pride intact,” Nikora said.
“With 17 unanswered points, the boys did that — we were proud of their second-half performance.”
Hammers head coach Matt Winter said: “Poverty Bay got up and showed real character in the second half — in the effort areas, they put more bodies in front of us, they were quicker off the ground, quicker off the line and more committed at the breakdown.
“Keanu [Taumata, Poverty Bay vice-captain openside flanker] was always there or thereabouts.
“They were a different side. While that was the third Meningitis Charity Game we’ve played, it was the first one we’ve won, and we won it on World Meningitis Day. It’s a pretty special thing.”
The teams were led by their respective hookers, Poverty Bay under Shayde Skudder and Mid-Canterbury by Callum Burrell.
Skudder won the coin toss and chose to play into the northerly breeze, Mid-Canterbury first five left-footer Nathan McCloy kicked off.
The home team opened the scoring in the first minute of play, after McCloy had put them in prime attacking position with a great grubber kick and at a lineout 6m from the left corner, Burrell hit rangy openside flanker McGregor Best at lineout position five. From the drive, blindside flanker Kaydis Hona scored.
Second five Tom Reekie, Mid-Canterbury’s hero in the last meeting on Gisborne Oval 2, converted Hona’s try for 7-0.
Having won a scrum centreground at halfway, another deft McCloy kick-through resulted in a line-out 12m from the left corner for Mid-Canterbury.
The Hammers batted the ball on to their side and Burrell — standing off — seized upon the loose ball and got it down next to the posts in the fifth minute.
Reekie again did the duty for 14-0.
Following a lineout 12m into the Bay’s territory on the right-hand side, a drive carried Mid-Canterbury deep into the 22.
Three passes went left and powerhouse winger Raitube Vasurakuta flopped across to score in the corner after 16 minutes.
Vasurakuta’s try was not converted. In the 24th minute, after Weka No8 Hugh Taylor — standing at No2 — won a lineout 2m from the right corner at Mid-Canterbury’s end. The Bay went left, first five Piri Paraone almost scored and shortly afterwards, the visitors’ centre Mitchell Purvis scored 5m to the right of the posts. Paraone landed the conversion for Poverty Bay 7, Mid-Canterbury 19.
Reekie converted No 8 Michael Hennings’ five-pointer in the 27th minute and, incredibly, a hat-trick of tries to quicksilver halfback Kieran McLea (30, 33, 36m) for a 47-7 scoreline at the break.
Minutes 30-40 were beyond rough for the scarlet-and-white side but the second half, heartwarmingly, was all theirs. Two minutes into the half, loosehead prop Nik Patumaka got the Bay’s second try in the same corner the hosts’ McCloy had targeted at the beginning of the game. Patumaka’s try was not converted.
Canterbury referee Daniel Moore was excellent value, with good judgment and consistency throughout.
In the 56th minute, Taumata showed tremendous strength to score the Weka’s third try, this one a through-the-front-door effort 5m to the left of the posts; Taylor at the front winning another lineout 15m from the left corner and two phases of play later, Taumata got by three men to score 7m to the left of the posts.
Paraone converted Taumata’s try to make the scoreline Weka 19, Mid-Canterbury 47.
In the 84th minute, the Bay finished the game — and their toughest season — in the best way imaginable. Centre Iowane Filimone rustled up a turnover just inside the left touch in Bay territory, connected with Taumata, and he linked with fullback Matt Proffit to score a break-out try 15m to the left of the posts.
There was no conversion — the final score was Poverty Bay 24, Mid-Canterbury 47.
