Heartland Preview – Poverty Bay v East Coast – Head 2 Head

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23 August 2014

Poverty Bay v East Coast

@ Gisborne 2:30 PM – BET NOW

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We continue our Head 2 Head Previews with Poverty Bay v East Coast.

POVERTY BAY

2013 finish: 12^th

Poverty Bay will be hoping that Tau Moeke can win his third Heartland gold medal when the former Wanganui and East Coast Meads Cup champion player dons the Bay colours this season.

Moeke, a NZ Heartland rep, was in the winning Wanganui side in 2008 and also in the 2012 champion East Coast team.

He has been playing club rugby at first five and in mid field in Gisborne this year and should be a key member when coach Mutu Ngarimu settles on his Heartland squad.

Poverty Bay, four times Lochore Cup holders and twice Meads Cup semi-finalists, drifted to the bottom of Heartland rugby last year and Ngarimu is determined that the “Reds” will regain some pride this season.

Losses include Namibian international fullback Dave Philander to Taranaki and prop Jone Lesi to Bay of Plenty but back after an absence is first five Brad Turei.

The Bay’s match centurion, back rower Sione Ngatu with 110 caps to his credit and skipper last year, has been playing well in club rugby where the standard has been higher than in recent seasons.

The Bay beat East Coast 28-12 in an annual Queen’s Birthday match at Ruatoria.

After the union’s worst Heartland performance, conceding the most points and most tries last year, Poverty Bay is aiming for a much higher placing in 2014.

Poverty Bay Heartland Squad vs East Coast

EAST COAST – http://npec.co.nz

2013 finish : 10^TH

Following Meads Cup silver and gold in 2011-12 it was a dramatic form slump for the Ngati Porou Coasters last season who managed just two scalps from eight matches.

Coast only beat the bottom two unions, Poverty Bay and Horowhenua-Kapiti.

Former East Coast rep Whetu Haerewa, back from Australia, has taken over from  Ngarimu Simpkins as selector-coach and one of his main aims is to use as many locals as possible.

A vital member of the team will be 35-year-old halfback Charlie Harrison, a seasoned campaigner who has experience and leadership skills and 90 games under his belt.

Coast has lost centre Tau Moeke to Poverty Bay and the union’s other two 2013 NZ Heartland reps, winger Whaimotu Craft-Chemis and lock Riki Waitoa, are playing in Bay of Plenty. The latter could possibly return as a loan player .

Also missing this year are experienced inside back Lance Maaka (65 caps).

and Hawke’s Bay loan players Everard Reid (lock) and Siegried Fisi’ihou (prop) along with flanker Brent Ingram.

Lock-flanker Pakanui Webb, who led the Coast in a 28-12 loss to Poverty Bay in June, has 42 games to his credit.

Two brothers pressing for places in the team are hooker Kareti Palmer and his older brother Chris, an outside back or fullback. Also playing well is tight head prop Drummond Morris

Ngati Porou Heartland Squad vs Poverty Bay

Forwards: 1- Victor Harrison 2- Kareti Palmer 3- Mahue Dewes 4- Rhys Walker
5- Pakanui Webb (Cpt) 6- Kazius Delamere 7- Tanetoa Parata 8- Frankie Taiapa

Backs: 9- Charlie Harrison 10-Verdon Bartlett 11-Kris Palmer 12-Moana Mato
13-Roha Dalton-Reedy 14-Floyd Haerewa 15-Pamona Samupo

Reserves:16-Pat McLean 17-Drummond Morice 18-Desi Cook 19-Matanuku Parata
20-Corey Walker 21-Robert Ngarimu 22-Tovio Fidow

COACH: Whetu Haerewa , ASST COACH: Troy Para
MANAGER: James Palmer , MASSEUR: Cran Gage , PHYSIO: Roger Main

POVERTY BAY v EAST COAST
Saturday 23 August, 2.30pm at Rugby Park, Gisborne
Played: 7, 2006-2013 | East Coast wins: 3 | Poverty Bay wins: 4
Last match: East Coast 22 Poverty Bay 18, 28.09.13 in Ruatoria (HC)
Last Poverty Bay win: Poverty Bay 71 East Coast 3, 04.09.10 in Gisborne (P)
Biggest East Coast score: 30 (30-29), 17.09.11 in Tolaga Bay (HC)
Biggest Poverty Bay score: 71 (71-3), 04.09.10 in Gisborne (P)
Biggest differential: Poverty Bay by 68, (71-3), 04.09.10 in Gisborne (P)

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