Billy Ropiha and his Taradale teammates had plenty of motivation on Saturday as they secured the Nash Cup with one weeks play remaining.
"That's for Red and Mana," Ropiha said after Carters Frame and Truss Taradale pipped Hawke's Bay Insurances Limited Napier Old Boys Marist 30-24 in a Park Island thriller which attracted more than 400 spectators.
Second five-eighth Ropiha, who is in his first season with Taradale after transferring from Clive, was referring to captain and lock Andrew Red Gardner who was playing his 100th game for the visitors and first five-eighth Manihera Eden who was playing his 50th. Ropiha secured player-of-the-match honours with the bonus point try, accurate distribution and heroic defensive work.
"Like they have done in every game this season ... our forwards performed well and we feed off that," Ropiha said.
He is obviously benefiting from a second season in the Magpies wider training group. When asked if he fancied his chances of going one step better than last year by capturing a berth in the ITM Cup squad Ropiha replied: "Everyone has got a chance ... I just have to keep working hard."
Delighted Taradale co-coach Blair Cross pointed out the victory was the result of a three-season development programme at his club. He praised the hosts never-say-die approach and the refereeing of Marty Hantz who dished out a 4-3 penalty count in favour of the hosts and added the Hawke's Bay union should have been proud of the occasion and atmosphere created.
NOBM did well to keep fighting back and led on four occasions despite their scrum being outplayed and their lineout play woeful considering the ideal playing conditions. Hurricanes squad member and NOBM lock Mark Abbott impressed with his physicality and workrate while promising flanker Sean Watts again proved why he has the nickname Turbo.
Clive 30 Central 25
Clive coach Andy Green was toasting the rugby gods after this close Farndon Park encounter.
"Thats a payback for those two 30-point plus losses earlier in the season which weren't fair reflections of the game," Green explained.
"At the same time it was a classic game of two halves," he added referring to his sides 20-3 halftime lead.
Aussie winger Reece Cleeton, who scored two tries, joined veteran second five-eighth Ray Karauria, in his first outing of the season, and halfback Daniel Montaperto as the pick of the Clive backs. Captain and hooker Jorian Tangaere, loosehead prop Nathan Bruce and No8 Rocky Pohatu were inspirational in the Clive pack.
Disappointed Northfuels Central manager Tony Lepelaars said his sides first half was flat. Openside flanker Nigel Walshe, lock Hugh Graham and winger Harry de Lautour were prominent in the improved second half.
Hastings 39 Tech 7
IMS Payroll Hastings Rugby and Sports flanker Mark Ioane celebrated his 50th and blazer game with a player-of-the-match performance in this Whitmore Park victory.
Lock Ben Parsons, first five-eighth Neil Burns and No8 Peniasi Tokakece were others to make co-coach Aaron Bartletts MVP list. Bartlett said his side butchered three tryscoring opportunities in the first half.
Maddison Trophy holders Tech Group of Companies Napier Technical dropped to ninth place on the points table with the loss.
"We didn't have enough ball and our error rate was high," Tech manager Cyril Whitburn said before singling out 34-year-old lock Darren Deeley, 2008 New Zealand under-20s world champion flanker Hugh Reed and prop Mark Braidwood as the hosts best.
Pirate 64 Tamatea 5
Tamatea co-coach Aaron Painter lamented poor turnouts at trainings for the second consecutive week after this Bill Mathewson Park walloping.
"We had two players at training on Tuesday and seven on Thursday. But at the same time I was proud of our first half and the score was 5-all after 30 minutes."
Halfback Wayne Nikora, flanker Ivan Bellamy and prop Te Maangi Hamlin were the key architects of Tamatea's competitive first spell. Tanalised Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports displayed their class as they dominated the second spell.
Loose forwards Marcus Donovan, Tom Nicol and Nick Agnew combined well, while second five-eighth Jackson Neilson was constructive and destructive depending on the circumstances.
Havelock 45 MAC 19
Defending champions Progressive Meats Havelock North capitalised on MACs poor discipline big time with this Anderson Park victory.
"I'll discipline cost us ... it was a very disappointing performance," MAC co-coach Randell Box said.
Prop Miles Anderson and flanker Tony Lamborn were a rampant pair in the Havelock pack while veteran back Jacob Kennedy had admirable stints in both the wing and centre positions. First five-eighth Tianua Poto was the pick of the MAC backs and deserved his two tries while prop Clinton Vaiusu and lock Johnny Te Ngaio were tireless workers in the losing pack.