Captain and No 8 Tom Brock, openside flanker Cooper Flanders and substitute halfback Le’Sharn Reiri-Paku were the key architects of the Villagers’ second-half comeback.
Defending champions Taradale Rugby and Sports produced their best performance of the season with a 46-19 win against Napier Technical in the feature clash of the Texans Club Day at Whitmore Park. The win also spoiled Tech first five-eighths Leighton Shaw’s 50th appearance for the hosts.
“Taradale took a 21-0 lead in the first 10 minutes and we didn’t recover from that. Fortunately, we have the King’s Birthday Weekend break to freshen up,” Texans manager Cyril Whitburn said.
Consistent openside flanker Carlo Mienie, who continually boxes above his weight, was again Taradale’s player of the match. Lock Angelo Mufana was another workaholic in the winning pack and winger Meni Manase was the best of the Taradale backs.
Prop Kianu Kereru-Symes and No 8 Liam Udy-Johns were tireless workers in the Tech pack. Experienced second five-eighths Ted Walters was the pick of the Tech backs.
Hastings Rugby and Sports coach Jason Long said there were too many errors from his troops during a 62-10 victory over Bridge Pā at Elwood Park. He praised the improvement Bridge Pā displayed since the Nash Cup outing between the two sides.
“They put in a solid team effort for the full 80 and when we were able to build phases, we were good,” Long said.
Lock Max Gomez was full of authority in the Hastings engine room. Hooker Joseph Lilo-Iosefo was powerful on the carry and deserved his two tries.
Second five-eighths Tomasi Naicegulevu, who also scored two tries, shone with his defensive work. Substitute first five-eighths Koby Deacon functioned well in his first outing since returning from the United States and Magpies winger Neria Fomai made the most of his opportunities off the pine in his first outing of the season.
Former Hurricanes loosie Campbell Feather, who is a member of the Bridge Pā coaching crew, was impressed with the progress the side is making. He pointed out that while there is still plenty of work to be done on the lineout, the scrummaging work got a big tick.
“They can all be very proud of themselves,” Feather said.
Openside flanker Benji Cowan was outstanding in the Bridge Pā pack, where lock Asher Mitchell was also a valuable contributor. Fullback James Bailey was thirsty for work.
Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports returned to the winning path with a 45-14 win over MAC at Flaxmere Park. Pirate led 35-7 at the interval.
“We lost our way in the second half but the damage was done in the first after we took a while to break them down,” player-coach and first five-eighths Sheridan Rangihuna said.
Openside flanker Drew Berg-McLean was again classy for the visitors. Winger Charlie Nash and captain and second five-eighths Luke Russell were the pick of the Pirate backs.
Captain Teokotai Reiri and fellow lock Fraser Taurima Heperi provided plenty of grunt in the MAC engine room. Substitute back Khan Pokere was full of enterprise.
Scorers
Napier Old Boys Marist 26 (Lockie Varcoe, Jedidah Corbett, Jonty Stewart tries; Stewart 3 cons), Havelock North 21 (Cooper Flanders, Manahi Goulton, Lawson Gillies tries; Will Cole 3 cons). HT: 21-0.
Taradale Rugby and Sports 46 (CJ Mienie (2), Carlo Mienie, Koby Lee, Meni Manase, Bethel Malasia, Nic Benn tries; Luke Thomas 3, Manase cons; Thomas pen), Napier Technical 19 (Nik Patumaka, Kianu Kereru-Symes, Jaziah Symons tries; Leighton Shaw 2 cons).HT: 24-14.
Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports 45 (Andrew Tauatevalu (2), Drew Berg-McLean (2), Jericho Wharehinga, Charlie Nash tries; Sheridan Rangihuna 6 cons, pen), MAC 14 (Ratu Qaraniqio, Alatasi Tupou tries; Qaraniqio, Henry Lautaimi cons). HT: 35-7.
Hastings Rugby and Sports 62 (Oscar Sowman (2), John Lameko (2), Tomasi Naicegulevu (2), Joseph Lilo-Iosefo (2), Jordan Thompson-Dunn, Perez Malo tries; Sowman 6 cons), Bridge Pā 10 (Jackson Waerea, Ngati Kahungunu Manihera tries). HT: 24-5.
This match report is courtesy of the Hawke’s Bay Rugby Union.