On Saturday, they successfully defended the Bill Osborne Taonga and PJ Sayers Cup (played for when the sides meet on the Coast).
Everyone is chasing two-time defending Meads Cup holders South Canterbury — unbeaten in 26 games in the 12-team championship since the 2019 Lochore Cup semifinals — who have 25 points.
NPEC’s first-year head coach Kahu Tamatea was proud of the home team’s showing under captain and halfback Sam Parkes.
“The boys played tough, which we needed to against a very tough Poverty Bay side with threats all over Whakarua Park,” said Tamatea, who was up against a Wekas side featuring several YMP players he has coached to consecutive titles in the Poverty Bay Premier club competition.
“We had to man up to contain them, which we did. Defence was the key to our win.”
Parkes agreed. “Our defence keeps getting better. Everyone played well. For us, the tactic was to kick high — to make that a contestable area. We then ran our plays from that position.”
Tamatea’s opposite, Miah Nikora, said: “We weren’t good enough to capitalise on opportunities that we had inside the Coast’s 22, where NPEC were clinical in taking the chances that they had to score points.
“We defended well for long periods . Though I’ve yet to see the tackle stats, I’m confident our tackle completion percentage was decent. On attack, our scrum functioned well and in phase play we looked good when we built pressure and varied our attack.”
The hosts, who took maximum points from the clash, won the lineout count 13-4 and scrums 8-5. The men in scarlet committed seven handling errors to the Sky Blues’ four.
Waikato referee Ben Woolerton, in his 17th first-class appointment, awarded NPEC 15 penalties and the Bay 11.
The visitors won the coin toss and chose direction, with a wisp of a southerly at their backs and 900 in attendance for match 175 between the sides.
Coast first-five Terangi Fraser drew first blood 10 minutes in with a close-range penalty goal for offside play.
In the 24th minute, Poverty Bay lock Jordan Kingi was yellow-carded after consistent infringements by the visitors, and Fraser subsequently landed the penalty for 6-0.
After 27 minutes, the Bay were awarded their second penalty and fullback Ricardo Patricio was successful with the kick from 24m out.
In the 31st minute came the first injection of magic for the day.
Leaping in the middle of a Coast lineout 2m into Poverty Bay territory on the right touch, Kaupoi No.8 Mitch Crosswell won the ball and Parkes sent it wide.
Fraser, openside flanker Willy Bollingford and Crosswell all handled before fullback Renata Roberts-Te Nana got his hands on the ball on the Bay’s 10-metre line. Somehow he broke Bay right-wing Taine Aupouri’s tackle, proceeded to give reserve blindside flanker Seth Lundon the slip the stepped past Patricio with ease to score a brilliant try in the left corner in front of his adoring Ruatoria City club fans.
The try was not converted and the Coast led 11-3.
Fraser kicked his third penalty goal in the 38th minute for 14-3 and Patricio replied with a penalty from 29m on the stroke of halftime to reduce the deficit to 14-6.
Six minutes after the resumption and 17m from the right corner on attack, Coast hooker Jorian Tangaere — replacing the absent Joe Royal — found lock Richie Green in the lineout and the Sky Blues’ deadly drive commenced.
The ball found its way back to Tangaere and, in the best traditions of Royal, he scored a fine forwards’ try 6m infield for 19-6..
Fraser missed the conversion.
The introduction of giant Poverty Bay tighthead prop Jarryd Broughton in the 50th minute for feisty scrum anchor James Higgins was a make-or-break moment.
Broughton, the biggest man in New Zealand rugby, made a number of fearsome close-quarters charges at the goal line but committed Coast defence kept him at bay.
Referee Woolerton sent Parkes to the sinbin for a professional foul in the 54th minute and two minutes later Bay skipper and hooker Shayden Skudder joined him for reckless use of his boot after the Bay had received a penalty in front of the posts.
The penalty was reversed.
The Coast put themselves clear points-wise with a superb try to second-five Tavita Nabura in the 63rd minute.
From a lineout 29m out from their own goal line, Fraser punted the ball high over halfway.
Poverty Bay reserve fullback Moses Christie hurtled forward but was unable to get to the ball as it bounced horribly for the defence, allowing right-wing-come-halfback Te Aho Morice (as Parkes was stilll in the bin) to zip through, grab the loose ball and feed second-five Tavita Nabura, who scored 3m to the left of the posts.
Fraser converted for 26-6.
In the 67th minute, the Bay scored a try which spoke to their work ethic and unity.
Reserve hooker Ngahiwi Manuel hit fetcher Keanu Taumata at No.4 16m from the goal line, Manuel joined the hard, bustling drive and scored in the right corner.
The gap was closed to 26-11 but the conversion was missed.
In the 70th minute, a magnificent cut-out pass from Fraser to Roberts-Te Nana left Bay debutant Jonty Stewart in the position of having to stop the Coast fullback and winger Te Peehi having Fairlie to deal with what came next.
Instinctively, Fairlie batted the ball down from Roberts-Te Nana attempted reverse pass to winger Verdon Bartlett , and he became the Bay’s third sinbinning of the day.
The Kaupoi had the last say in the 74th minute. Following a 5m scrum. Parkes went left, Poverty Bay second-five Jacob Leaf scragged NPEC reserve Josh Dearden and the visitors pulled off one more heroic stop of loosehead prop Hakarangi Tichborne in front of the posts.
Finally Parkes went right to Roberts-Te Nana, who sent a 20m pass the way of Coast legend Bartlett, who nipped by Lundon to score in the corner.
The try was unconverted.
There was no lack of effort or grunt from Poverty Bay. The packs were well-matched but the hosts played astutely and were direct.
The yellow cards for both teams were blips as the game was played with typical passion.
Woolerton and his assistant referees did what they needed to do to facilitate good, tough rugby.
