Poverty Bay secure home town final

Poverty Bay shook off their player eligibility row to beat Horowhenua-Kapiti 22-13 in Gisborne. The champions now meet Wairarapa Bush in a home final on Saturday.

Centre James Kerr, whose controversial status earned a $3500 fine for Poverty Bay from the New Zealand Rugby Union, played a key role in defence to close down Horowhenua.

Poverty Bay scored 19 unanswered points in the second half after trailing 10-3 at the break.

Lock Jamie Hutana, playing his 50th game for Poverty Bay, was in the middle of the action while hooker Joe Duffey and young props Colin Hovell and Josh Maynard had strong games.

Horowhenua's standouts were halfback Scott McBride, fullback Dion Nepia and wing Ashley Drake.

Poverty Bay first five-eighth Scott Leighton had a big second-half, slotting four penalties, a dropped goal and came close to scoring a try.

He finished with 17 points.

Wairarapa-Bush booked their finals spot with a 16-9 win over Mid-Canterbury in Masterton.

Mid-Canterbury scored first with a Matt Dunlea penalty. Patrick Rimene evened things up at 3-3.

The only try of the match came from a Wairarapa-Bush rolling maul which carried prop Logan Ili over.

Wairarapa went to the break 13-9 ahead. It was a dour second half, both teams playing through the forwards.

Locks Stu Smith, Dan Joblin and Sam Henderson dominated the lineouts for Wairarapa-Bush and were also prominent in the rucks and mauls.

Captain and No 8 Clark McLeod was one of the standout Mid-Canterbury forwards along with front rowers Nick Hartley and flanker Andrew Morgan.

- NZPA

NPC fixtures, results and standings
Division One | Division Two |