Other highlights for the home side included tries on debut for powerhouse flanker Khian Westrupp and replacement halfback Kayleb Te Whare, and a touch of try-scoring class from flanker Keanu Taumata.
The Coast had the better of the first half to go into the break 12-7 ahead.
“Our biggest issues were ball security and discipline,” Poverty Bay coach Miah Nikora said. “We were giving them too many cheap penalties in our own half and with the wind behind them, they were able to kick to touch and get a lot of metres.
“When we were on attack, we were doing well but then we would cough the ball up softly.
“We created two or three clear-cut chances through line breaks that we didn’t quite finish . . . but we stuck to our structures, stuck to our plan.”
Poverty Bay’s reserves — or “finishers” — provided vital impact in a second 40 the home side dominated.
“Every one of them got us through in the end,” said Nikora.
“That was a really good Coast team, so for our new guys to come out and experience the next level, it’s massive for us.”
Plenty of players put up their hands for Heartland squad selection, he said.
The Coast hit the paddock running with the wind at their back and in front of an enthusiastic crowd of several hundred — some of who backed up their utes to use as grandstands behind the fence on the old St Mary’s School site.
After getting a scrum penalty hot on attack in the seventh minute, the Coast took a quick tap and got the ball to prop Hakarangi Tichborne and there was no stopping the big man on the charge from that distance out.
Te Rangi Fraser, who drifted between the first five and fullback roles, knocked over the conversion to put his side 7-0 ahead.
The Bay had a couple of good chances to bounce back — one of those foiled by Fraser’s try-saving intercept of the last pass.
Westrupp capped an outstanding game with a try in the 20th minute. Taumata made the initial break, the ball was sent along the line to No.8 Stu Leach, who slipped it inside to Westrupp in full flight.
Patricio converted for 7-all.
Having survived another Bay attack let down by a loose last pass in the 31st minute, the Coast forwards once again produced another powerhouse scrum from a Bay feed five metres out from the try line.
The scrum was reset, with the Coast having won the feed , and the ball was quickly moved left for winger Tipene Meihana to finish in the left corner in the 38th minute.
The second half was a tug-of-war early on but the Bay got themselves into an attacking position and after a series of Coast infringements referee Damien Macpherson lost patience and yellow-carded Coast replacement lock Nick Crosswell.
Despite being down to 14 men, the Coast kept the Bay out, then struck a blow against the run of play in the 55th minute when No.8 Will Bolingford got the ball from a quick penalty tap and broke through a couple of tackles to score in the right corner and put his side 17-7 in front.
The Bay took control from there, with bench players like Te Whare and fellow debutant Hayze Nepia (prop) at the forefront.
From a midfield Coast kick in the 60th minute, the ball went to the hands of Patricio who zipped through a gap and sent the ball inside to Te Whare, who reached full stretch to plant the ball for a try which cut the deficit to 17-12.
Five minutes later, Bay centre Taine Aupouri after sustained pressure, finished off strongly and Patricio’s conversion put the home team up for the first time in the match — 19-17.
Patricio added a penalty kick in the 70th to extend it to 22-17.
A couple of minutes later came the individual try of the match as Bay first five Kelvin Smith used the boot intelligently to give his side territorial advantage.
From a penalty, the ball was moved wide to Taumata on the wing and as the Coast cover defence came across, he chipped the ball ahead into the in-goal and got the perfect bounce to finish off superbly.
Patricio, growing in confidence as the match progressed, banged over the conversion from the right touchline for a 29-17 advantage.
“It was a good piece of skill,” Nikora said of Taumata’s initiative..
“We said we wanted our players to go out and express themselves and that was a moment where Keanu did and it paid off.”
Smith was yellow-carded late in the game for a high tackle he instantly acknowledged.
Poverty Bay 29 (Khian Westrupp, Kayleb Te Whare, Taine Aupouri, Keanu Taumata tries; Ricardo Patricio 3 con, pen).
NGATI POROU EAST COAST 17 (Hakarangi Tichborne, Tipene Meihana, Will Bolingford tries; Te Rangi Fraser con).
HT: 12-7 (Coast)
