Napier Pirate Panthers took another step towards making their club Hawke's Bay rugby league and union champions when they beat Omahu Huia 36-22 in the fifth round of the 13-man code's premiership on Saturday at the Regional Sports Park, Hastings.
The win, in their first meeting since Panthers beat Omahu22-6 in last year's final, kept the Panthers at the top of the table with fellow Napier side Tech, who beat promoted 2014 Reserve champion club Kahuranaki 40-16.
Winners of the rugby league title for the first time last year, the Panthers are now favourites for a repeat and also to emulate the feat of the Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports Club side which won the Hawke's Bay Rugby Union's Premier-grade Maddison Trophy final last month.
Saturday's other match in the six-team league competition, in which MAC beat Outkast Sports 36-8, ended in controversy, with league competition manager Mike Tamati announcing later MAC had breached interchange rules, and were stripped of the points, awarding the game to the beaten side.
Panthers were always on top in their match, in which centre Leroy Taiapa scored three of the team's seven tries. Other tries were scored by fellow centre Tihei Turei, halfback Bronson Delamere, second row forward Tame Goldsack, and loose forward Jess Kapene, with Delamere adding three goals and standoff Lion McIntyre one.
Shane Wicken, 36, scored two tries playing in the forwards for the Huia, whose other tries were scored by halfback Taniera Miratana, August Stevens and John Harley-Wong, with Miratana kicking just one goal.
The Panthers, who led 24-10 at half-time, play a top-of-the table match next Saturday against Tech, the sides' opening round game, played in Napier, having been deemed a draw because no referee had been available.
Bridge Pa continued their dominance of the Reserve grade with an 82-16 win over fourth-placed Te Awhina Knights, and MAC cemented their lead in the winners' grade by beating Tamatea 50-4.
