Rugby: Hann adds some polish

Hawke's Bay Saracens centre Hayden Hann bridges at a ruck during last night's win in Waipukurau. Photo/Warren Buckland

HAYDEN HANN knows he needs to put some more meat on his bones if he is going to earn a Hawke's Bay Magpies Mitre 10 Cup rugby contract this season.

"I'm 80kg now but I need to be 90kg. If I have to give sevens a miss in the off season and work on putting on those 10kg to boost my chances in the future I will," Hann said last night.

In the wake of the polished display the Tanalised Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports centre produced for the Hawke's Bay Saracens in their 41-33 win against the Manawatu Evergreens in Waipukurau last night he may find himself earning a contract before the bulking up mission begins.

He scored two tries through some accurate support play and running the right lines, defended well and boasted the necessary chatter levels.

The fact Hann, 23, played all 80 minutes must have been an indication Magpies head coach Craig Philpott and his assistant Mark Ozich are more than interested in him.

"I was pretty stoked to help the boys get the win and with my own game, it's a lot easier with so many quality players around you ... I just had to focus on my job," Hann said.

"I'm not holding out for a contract. My main focus is the club season ... we're second on the table after turning our season around and I want to help the Pirate boys do well at the business end," Hann added.

Philpott was impressed with Hawke's Bay sevens rep Hann's contribution.

"Hayden was up against better opposition tonight than he faces in club play and he didn't look out of place. With his ability to cover wing, fullback and centre he could force his way into the mix," the coach said.

Philpott had every right to be proud of the hosts' effort.

"We started three contracted players and brought another one [halfback Ellery Wilson] on. Manawatu used 18 contracted players and there wasn't a lot of difference.

"We're building our depth nicely and history tells us you need to have depth," Philpott said, referring to their disappointing 2016 campaign which saw the Magpies relegated from the Premiership after several Super players were unable to play through injury.

Contracted props Mason Kean and Jason Long impressed with their carries and scrummaging.

Philpott said the Magpies' new scrum coach, injured Highlander Brendon Edmonds, who has replaced former All Black Campbell Johnstone, now in Spain, has done a top job.

Former Chiefs utility back Andrew Horrell, who has still to shake off his concussion issues, has taken on a technical adviser's role with the Magpies.

While Edmonds isn't expected to play this season Philpott said uncertainty surrounds Horrell's availability.

It's no secret the loose forward positions provide the most depth in the wider training group and blindside flanker Matt Gardner again enhanced his chances with another of his workaholic displays last night.

Contracted winger Mason Emerson and fellow speedster Shannan Chase made the most of their opportunities.

Wilson proved how well he had been studying footage of Beauden Barrett and the Hurricanes with some clever cross kicks which led to tries from Mitch Drew and Chase.

Another pleasing aspect of last night's match for Philpott was the small injury list. Hooker Jacob Devery left the field with a knee injury but returned to the fray and winger Dan McIntyre aggravated a shoulder injury he already had.

"All the club coaches will be happy with us."

The Magpies Mitre 10 Cup squad will be named on August 6. Before then there will be pre-season games against Waikato in Taupo on August 5, the same day as the Maddison Trophy final, against Manawatu in Palmerston North on August 12 and a pre-season camp in Dannevirke.

They open their cup campaign with a home game against Southland at Napier's McLean Park on August 19.

Hawke's Bay age group product and former Baby Blacks prop Tim Cadwallader scored one of the visitors' five tries. Former Magpies lock Tom Parsons was busy for the visitors - as was his brother Ben, in the same position for the hosts.

The Evergreens did well to score 14 unanswered points during a period in the first half when the Saracens conceded too many soft turnovers and penalties. They also had a strong patch in the third quarter before the Saracens got more direct and were able to build phases with better regularity.

Considering the heavy dew and the poor lighting in patches the handling produced by both teams was of a high standard and so was the contribution of referee Stu Catley in the town where his career began.

Hawke's Bay Saracens 41 (Hayden Hann 2, Mitch Drew, Matt Gardner, Shannan Chase, Paulo Nu'u tries; Dan Snee 4 cons, pen) Manawatu Evergreens 33 (Nathan Tudreu, Patrick Tafili-Reid, Ben Wyness, Liam Mitchell, Tim Cadwallader tries; Sam Malcolm 3, Wyness cons).
HT: 17-14.