Ngāti Porou East Coast No.8 Willy Bolingford goes over for a try in the King’s Birthday Weekend rugby derby against Poverty Bay at the Oval. The home side won 29-17. Pictures by Paul Rickard
The first King's Birthday Weekend rugby derby since 1951 went Poverty Bay's way on home turf at the weekend.
The Bay defeated Ngati Porou East Coast 29-17 after trailing 17-7 during the second half.
A good crowd turned up at the Oval, a fitting venue for the match as it was
there where the traditional foes met in 1953 on the same day as the coronation of Queen Elizabeth.
Poverty Bay's victory on Saturday regained the Anaru "Skip" Paenga Memorial Trophy played for when the teams clash in Gisborne.
The Coast won it at Rugby Park during the 2022 Heartland Championship.
