Centre Whaimotu Craft-Chemis scored three tries as Poverty bay beat Thames Valley 45-18 in a Heartland rugby championship Meads Cup match at Gisborne today.
Left winger John Stewart also dotted down twice while second five Pomare Samupo and right winger Tom Teaeki completed the tryscoring for the winners in an entertaining game.
Poverty Bay led 19-6 at halftime despite playing into a strong wind and picked up a bonus point when Samupo scored in the 46th minute, but the win was set up by a hard-working pack in which lock Murray Hewson and No 8 Karl Gemmell Clark were outstanding.
Trailing 6-45 with 20 minutes remaining Thames Valley hit back with tries to Josh Law and Richard Judd.
Fullback and skipper David Harrison had earlier kicked two first-half penalties for the visitors.
Score: Poverty Bay 45 (Whaimotu Craft-Chemis 3, John Stewart 2, Tom Teaeki, Pomare Samupo tries; Kahu Tamata 5 con) Thames Valley 18 (Josh Law, Richard Judd tries; David Harrison 2 pen, Andre Wilson con). Halftime: 19-6.
