Wairoa, fielding at least three of those who had played a national Heartland Championship match for Poverty Bay on Saturday in Gisborne, scored the first three tries.
As the visitors gathered resources, with more faces appearing from the side-line, some big forwards helped TVC back into the game with three tries, including one just on halftime, at which time Wairoa led 24-17.
A Wairoa try soon after halftime proved to be crucial to the outcome. Versatile back Tione Hubbard came on in the second half and the side needed a steadying influence after Poverty Bay representative Paoraian Manuel-Harman, who hadn’t played on Saturday, left the field injured after scoring a try about 30 minutes into the game.
Having played at first five-eighths, he returned late in the second half and kicked a penalty which created the 10-point margin at fulltime
Poverty Bay representative Ngahiwi Manuel, who played both in the front row and at flanker, scored two tries as did Kyoni Te Amo, playing at fullback.
After five consecutive challenge cancellations, including two scheduled at the end of the 2023 season, the match brought to an end an otherwise big season for Wairoa rugby, highlighted by the unbeaten runs by Tapuae and Wairoa Athletic in winning the two major Poverty Bay club titles, and the record numbers of Wairoa players in first class rugby playing for Poverty Bay.
Wairoa stalwart Toby Taylor, whose son Hugh played for Poverty Bay on Saturday and Wairoa on Sunday, is now planning a meeting to discuss the future of competition for the century-old cup.
