Nuhaka, Athletic top teams

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Nuhaka and Wairoa-Athletic are the teams to beat two weeks into the Civil Project Solutions Senior 1 rugby season.

The Nuhaka V8s overcame their hosts Mahia Avenue Shop Tapuae 62-0 at Tapuae Sports Ground No.1.

Nuhaka, known as The Star, scored seven tries before the break for a 45-0 lead at halftime.

Blayze-Waiari Taylor and Nikora Smith both scored two tries each.

Charteris Choppers Wairoa-Athletic first-five George Twigley had a magnificent match against Horouta Te Waka, scoring two tries and landing three conversions in a 41-14 win at Waikirikiri Park.

Angus Twigley also scored twice for Athletic, with the Ritchie Matenga-led Horouta scoring twice through openside flanker Charlie Kepa (64th minute) and fullback Emori Rasila (79th minute) to end the match.

First-five Legion Handsome Taingahue converted both tries for Horouta. Assistant coach Renata Maraka said: “It wasn’t the result we were after but the lads definitely finished the stronger, going down 41-14 to a well-drilled Athletic side.

“For the first 20 minutes, it was an even tussle but once they started playing to their strengths, they exposed us, with quick ball.

“In the last 20 minutes, our boys really impressed me with their never-give-up attitude.”

RUGBY SCOREBOARD

Poverty Bay SENIOR 1

CLUB RUGBY Week 2

Nuhaka V8s 62 (Blayze-Waiari Taylor 2, Nathaniel Solomon, Russel Love, Dukey Burton, Nikora Smith, Kauri Smith, Ilisoni Duruwaqa,

Zane Wairau, Simione Sugucola

tries; Carlos Carroll  4 con, Smith

con, Tahuwaka Edwards con)

Mahia Avenue Shop Tapuae 0.

HT Nuhaka 45 Tapuae 0.

Charteris Choppers Wairoa-Athletic 41 (George Twigley 2, Angus  Twigley 2, Toby Wilkinson, Brandon Taumata, Charlie Taylor tries;  George Twigley 3 con)

Horouta 14 (Charlie Kepa, Emori Rasila tries; Legion Handsome Taingahue 2 con).

HT Wairoa-Athletic 28 Horouta 0.

East Coast Farm Vets YMP beat Waikohu by default.