Fine means Poverty Bay hold semifinal position

Poverty Bay are delighted with the $3500 imposed yesterday by the New Zealand Rugby Union.

The NZRFU ruled that Poverty Bay breached regulations when they fielded former Crusaders' wing James Kerr.

There were fears Poverty Bay could lose 15 competition points, which would have jeopardised the team's place in today's semifinal against Horowhenua-Kapiti in Gisborne.

An NZRFU subcommittee headed by Bruce Squire, QC, found that Kerr was incorrectly treated by Poverty Bay as a local club player when he should have been treated as an outside loan player.

Kerr played in last year's NPC for Taranaki and had not been transferred to Poverty Bay in accordance with regulations.

As a result of Poverty Bay treating Kerr as a local club player, it fielded seven outside players in weeks four, five and six of the third division, one more than allowed under NPC regulations.

In deciding on a $3500 fine, Squire referred to previous breaches of the NPC eligibility regulations and the acknowledgment of fault by Poverty Bay.

Poverty Bay said in a statement it was "delighted" with the outcome.

It is the first time the union has finished top of the table after round-robin play, and a home semifinal has not been played in Gisborne since 1997 when Poverty Bay lost to Marlborough.

Poverty Bay is expecting its largest crowd at Rugby Park since the team were in the second division between 1987-1992.

- NZPA

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