Will Lovatt gets Hastings East on their way to a win over neighbours Hastings West. Photo / Paul Taylor
Will Lovatt gets Hastings East on their way to a win over neighbours Hastings West. Photo / Paul Taylor
Hastings East ensured they will take at least a share of the 2021 Ross Shield title with a 33-7 win over Dannevirke at Elwood Park in Hastings on Thursday afternoon.
The victory puts them on eight points - a tally which could only be matched, but not surpassed, by thewinner of the match between defending champions Hastings West and Napier at 1pm Friday.
East could put an outright shield victory beyond doubt with a win over Wairoa in the 12pm kickoff, with the northerners still seeking their first win of the competition through four days of play.
Hastings West kept themselves in contention with a 25-3 win over Wairoa on Thursday, while Napier defeated Central Hawke's Bay 62-12 in the day's first match.
Central and Dannevirke are both on one win each, so their 11am tussle will decide who finishes fourth overall.
