Rugby: Defaults take gloss off HB premier comp today

Taradale halfback Thomas Eden makes a break during his team's 16-13 win against Havelock North today. Photo/Paul Taylor

Two defaults marred today's round in Hawke's Bay's Tui Nash Cup premier club rugby competition.

Yesterday Central defaulted their playoff for ninth place against Clive at Farndon Park. Central officials told Hawke's Bay Rugby Football Union's club development officer Gary Macdonald a high injury count contributed to the default.

At 10am today Tamatea defaulted their quarterfinal against defending champions Napier Old Boys Marist at Park Island.

Eleven of our regular 22 players are on our injured list. Among those are four of our six adequately trained frontrowers and we don't have a seconds team which we can pick from," Tamatea head coach Matt Marsh explained.

"It's the first time we've defaulted and it wasn't an easy decision. We put an SOS out and got no reply. We're not blessed with 10 frontrowers like our neighbours across the road," Marsh said referring to Hastings Rugby and Sports who have regularly played one of their props at No 8 this season.

Marsh isn't sure whether his team will play next weekend as the losing quarterfinalists could negotiate whether they play or not.

"This is a good opportunity for us to refresh, re-group and re-commit," he added.

NOBM head coach Craig Gowler was gutted his troops missed out on a match.

"It's a pity we only found out this morning. If we had known sooner we could have arranged a game with Clive. Hopefully some of our boys will make the Magpies team to play Tasman on Wednesday otherwise we could be going into the semifinals a little underdone," Gowler said.

Scorers:
Taradale 16 (D McIntyre try; D Loibl 2, B Truesdale pens; Truesdale con), Havelock North 13 (I Paewai try; D Snee 2 pens; R Tongia con). HT: Havelock 7-6.
Napier Technical 55 (J Taulagi 5, T Joel, D Ramsay, T Walters, S Visibia tries; Taulagi 5 cons), MAC 5 (F Selesele try). HT: 17-0.
Hastings Rugby and Sports 52 (D Toala 2, T Agnew 2, T Vaiusu 2, J Saifiti, F Matamata tries; Vaiusu 5, I Ioane cons), Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports 18 (G Naera, T Symes tries; Z Clarke 2 pens, con). HT: 28-6.
Napier Old Boys Marist beat Tamatea by default.
Clive beat Central by default.