Rugby: Bay book semifinal spot with easy win

Hawke's Bay will take on Bay of Plenty in Sunday's division two semifinals at the national under-19 rugby tournament in Taupo after a convincing win yesterday.

The Bay team, which is captained by Magpies prop Mason Kean, beat Southland 41-24 after leading 29-0 at halftime and 41-0 before co-coaches Stu Drew and Pouri Rakete-Stones snr rolled their subs out.

"Things fell back a bit when we rolled out the subs but it was a polished team effort until then. Our forwards set the platform with some solid setpiece play which gave the backs plenty of opportunities in ideal conditions," Drew said.

Magpies No 8 Marino Mikaele-Tu'u and promising openside flanker Hannon Brighouse, who has been described as "the future of Hawke's Bay rugby" by his Napier Old Boys Marist coach Craig Gowler, were inspirational in the Bay pack.

Versatile loosie Ricky Hayes again shone in the second five-eighth position and winger Thomas Agnew produced some gutsy defensive work.

Agnew, Brighouse, fullback Liam McFarland, halfback Zac Donaldson, lock Aaron Einarsson and prop Pouri Rakete-Stones scored tries for the Bay and first five-eighth Harris Solomon kicked four conversions and a penalty.

Because the 16-team Jock Hobbs Memorial tournament at Owen Delany Park involves eight teams in each division, the four winning teams on day one qualify for Sunday's semifinals. The finals are played on Wednesday.

Drew has made no secret of the fact he wants his team to win the division two title which would give the Bay an overall placing of ninth, an improvement on last year's 11th. Kean, Hayes and centre Craig Sharplin played for Hawke's Bay at last year's tournament.

Waikato was the first division one team to book a semifinal courtesy of a 41-0 thrashing of Auckland B. Wellington also secured a division one semifinal with a 37-14 win against Otago.

A selection of games will be televised live on Sky Sport.