Havelock North flyer son of a gun

Jesse Paewai admitted to having a bout of the nerves when he took the field for Havelock North in Saturday's round of the Bay's Maddison Trophy premier club rugby competition.

With Ryan Tongia, Trinity Spooner-Neera and Mikey Vuicakau away on Hawke's Bay Saracens duty Paewai and fellow outside backs Johnny Robin and Shannan Chase had huge shoes to fill when they hosted this weekend's semifinal opponents Tanalised Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports at Anderson Park. It was also Paewai's first starting XV appearance for Progressive Meats Havelock North.

Spectators would have been excused if they thought 19-year-old Paewai was a regular. He scored his team's second try in the 19-7 victory after a 40-metre run and was a rock on defence in a display his father, Magpies centurion and former New Zealand Maori rep Murdoch Paewai, should have been proud of.

"It's good to be home playing alongside my brother and cousins ... it was a pity Isaac was away with the Saracens," Paewai said referring to twin brother Kalin, and cousins Ethan and Adam Bradey and Iaac Paewai.

In April he returned from an 18 month stint in Australia where he played for the Melbourne Rebels Under-20s at the national tournament. Like his brother, Paewai is in the Hawke's Bay under-19 squad.

Others to impress in the villagers cohesive display included No 8 Luke Ottley and prop Miles Anderson. Lock Matt Brown and prop Sean Morrison were the best of the Pirate forwards and halfback Matt Murtha the pick of the backs. Morrison was joined by his father Johnny in the visitors frontrow for a brief period.

NOBM 21 Hastings 10

Hawke's Bay Insurances Limited Napier Old Boys Marist booked an away semifinal against Taradale with this Park Island victory.

"It's good to be going back to Taradale as they are the only team we haven't beaten this season," NOBM manager Mike Smith said.

He was thrilled with the fast tempo his troops played the game at but pointed out IMS Payroll Hastings Rugby and Sports could also play at pace. Centre David Benson and second five-eighth Asa Ene combined well in the NOBM backline which received quality service from French halfback Boris Bouhraoua.

Blindside flanker Sean Skeet was again a workaholic in the winning pack. Hastings co-coach Karl Jones said the failure to capitalise on a couple of early scoring opportunities proved costly for his team.

"We didn't have the field position we needed, weren't accurate enough and didn't defend as well as we should have," Jones added.

Powerful No.8 Peniasi Tokakece and fellow former Magpies, hooker Tivaini Fomai and fullback James Rosenberg all made Jones MVP list.

Central 34 Tech 26

Northfuels Central finished the season in a commendable sixth place after this Whitmore Park win against the defending champions.

Winger Dan McIntyre grabbed a hat-trick for the visitors. Blindside flanker Tom Symes and lock Hugh Graham were inspirational in the winning pack and halfback Brayden Hardwidge was lively.

While Tech Group of Companies Napier Technical did well to recover from an early 19-0 deficit losing structure at vital times, the story of their season, was costly. A lengthy injury list forced captain and regular loosie Hugh Reed to play second five-eighth and he coped admirably. Veteran No 8 Darren Deeley, lock Andrew Kersley and blindside flanker Martin Taumata toiled tirelessly in the host pack.

Clive 27 MAC 26

Clive ended their campaign in style with this entertaining topsy turvy victory at Farndon Park.

Clive head coach Andy Green, who played the final 15 minutes in the frontrow, labelled blindside flanker Jesse Tuhua "another Sam Christie" because of his resemblance to the club stalwart during a player-of-the-match display. Veteran lock Sven Hogenesch and No 8 Rocky Pohatu were others to add plenty of grunt to the hosts engine room.

Being on the receiving end of a 10-2 penalty count in the second half didn't help MAC's cause. Captain and No 8 Everard Reid and substitute loosie Harlan Solomon were the pick of the MAC forwards and winger Noa Uaisele was again lethal.

Taradale 65 Tamatea 14

Carters Frame and Truss Taradale will keep the Challenge Shield for the summer after this home 11 tries to two rout.

Halfback Karl Hewitt and first five-eighth Wade Woolley directed the Taradale backline with aplomb. Openside flanker Jaaron Fritz was dynamic.

Tamatea prop Paipai Siafolau was again rampant and indicated he could be a future Hawke's Bay Development team rep. No 8 Ivan Bellamy was another to have memorable moments in the visiting pack and second five-eighth Vailoa Kereti was the best of the Tamatea backs. Tamatea will host the August 16 promotion-relegation game against the division two champions at Bill Mathewson Park.