Rugby: Family loyalties on the bench

Jack McCarthy (left), Lachlan McCarthy, Jack Lawson and Brett Lawson continue their family feuds well after the final whistle yesterday. Photo / Warren Buckland

Quality family time during the school holidays was tested for two Hawke's Bay families when the Wakely Shield rugby tournament began in Taradale yesterday.

Napier West captain Jack Lawson is used to playing in teams coached by his father Brett at the Taradale club. He did it for eight years before his father opted to take up refereeing this year.

"This was the first time we had been with opposing teams. It was pretty different but I could read all his team's moves," Jack said, after Napier West thrashed the Saracens 68-0 in the final game on day one of the 12th edition of the under-50kg event at Carters Arms Park.

"I thought the score would be a lot closer," he said, rubbing the victory into the old man a little more.

The 13-year-old third-year Wakely Shield player said the win was the start they wanted in their quest to prevent Hastings East from winning a third consecutive title. One of his props, Jack McCarthy, played against his younger brother, Saracens fullback Lachlan McCarthy, for the first time. They have been teammates throughout the grades and this season played together in the same 12th grade team as Lawson.

Jack, like Lawson, a Year 8 student at Taradale Intermediate School, had a bet with his younger brother.

"Every time he stepped me I had to give him 50 cents, and every time I barged through him he had to give me 50 cents."

"No money will be changing hands. We never clashed on the field ... I never had the chance to step him," Lachlan lamented.

While this is the 11-year-old Year 7 student's first Wakely Shield tournament, his 13-year-old brother and Year 8 student is playing in his second. Jack is equally as confident as Lawson about their team's title chances.

"We're pretty mobile and all fit, so a lack of fitness won't be an issue," he added.

Coach Lawson said his Saracens competed well during the first 20 minutes, before his son's team took control.

"We'll get a win or two before the end of the week but we're not going to let on which teams we are targeting."

Fullback Regan Fleming, who scored three tries, was Napier West's player-of-the-day. Lawson, who scored a try and first five-eighth Jake Christian-Goss, who scored a try and kicked six conversions, also made the MVP list.

Hastings East proved they are going to be tough to dethrone, with a 48-0 walloping of Wairoa.

Captain and prop Riley Walton-Sexton and openside flanker Dallas Hemi-Mason led the winning pack by example and fullback Bruno McDonald was the best in the winning backline.

The closest match of the day saw Napier East beat Hastings West 27-17. Napier East centre Mark Vaimoli, who scored two tries, was the player-of-the-match. His midfield partner Afa Moleli was also impressive.

Prop Lillie Spencer was powerful in the Hastings West pack.

The tournament is named after Taradale club stalwart Adele Wakely, who has been involved in coaching and administration for more than 50 years. She received the NZRFU Volunteer of the Year award in 2005 and is still a board member.

The player of the tournament will receive the Josh Kronfeld medal, which is named after the Hawke's Bay-raised former All Black flanker. Today's games will see Napier East take on the Saracens at 12.30pm, Hastings East take on Napier West in what should be a thriller from 1.45pm, and Wairoa take on Hastings West from 3pm.