Wakely Shield
Rugby
By Shane Hurndell
Napier East coach Dean Chamberlain was saluting his team's ability to claw their way back and then hang on to a lead after a tense start to the Wakely Shield rugby tournament in Taradale yesterday.
Napier East pipped Central 17-15 after trailing 7-5 at halftime. A brother of the two-time winning Napier Ross Shield head coach Clint Chamberlain, Chamberlain, is attempting to match his brother's feat at the 13th edition of the Wakely Shield tournament which caters for players under 50kg.
Robust No 8 Blake Tims and mobile lock Toby Findlay were prominent in the Napier pack. Fullback Jamie Chamberlain was enterprising in the winning backline and second five-eighth Jordan Martin impressed with his solid defence.
"The country boys ran out of fizz which is unusual at this level," Central coach Paul Yarrell said.
Lock Kaysh Butcher had some powerful carries for Central. Fellow lock Roan Berge also impressed in the Central pack.