Lock Bronson Primmer was busy in the dark and flanker Jonty Strong continued to enhance his reputation as a player of enormous promise. Halfback Taylor Greville and centre Teihana Brown were the best of the villagers backs.
Taradale 45 Tamatea 17
Carters Frame and Truss Taradale farewelled Japanese imports Yoshihito Sato and Seiyu Kohara in style with this Bill Mathewson Park win.
"It's going to be sad to see them go as they have been outstanding for us," Taradale head coach Jason Shoemark said.
"We let Tamatea in for some soft tries in the first half but kept them scoreless in the second half by playing a good territorial game appropriate to the conditions," he added.
First five-eighth Sato, who converted five of the visitors tries, dictated terms well during a player-of-the-match display. Blindside flanker Kurt Taylor and halfback Karl Hewitt were also key architects in the victory.
Tamatea did well to trail 26-17 at halftime but a high error rate proved costly in the second half. First five-eighth Ash Robinson-Bartlett, tighthead prop Mason Kean and captain and No 8 Hamiora Rowlands all made head coach Matt Marsh's MVP list.
NOBM 54 Central 10
It was another rampant second half from defending champions Hawke's Bay Insurances Limited Napier Old Boys Marist during this Park Island clash.
The hosts led 14-10 at halftime. Workaholic lock Ricky Hayes and loosehead prop Chris Benson were inspirational in the winning engine room while first five-eighth Johnny Lauano impressed with his match organisation and seven conversions from eight attempts.
"We defended well in the first half but slipped off in the second when NOBM were too clinical and too big. They are the best team in Hawke's Bay and I don't know if anybody will beat them," Northfuels Central coach Exham Wichman said.
He heaped kudos on retired premier prop Marcus Jackson who played 60 minutes for the visitors after playing 80 minutes for Central's development team in the curtainraiser. First five-eighth Cole Eru again impressed for Central.
Pirate 20 MAC 16
Tanalised Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports celebrated club day with this close Tamatea Park win, their second of the season.
"The conditions were a leveller," Pirate manager Charles Reid said.
Captain and No 8 Aaron McPhee and blindside flanker Gerome Naera led the Pirate pack by example. Centre Hayden Hann and substitute winger Brynn Uriarau provided plenty of spark to the winning backline.
"We had long periods of dominance but couldn't capitalise on opportunities," MAC coach Anthony Morley said.
Samoa Sevens captain Fa'alemiga Selesele was outstanding for the visitors in his first outing of the season. He could be missing for another fortnight at least as he is in the 35-strong Samoa squad which goes into camp next week to prepare for the test against the All Blacks.
Inside back Willie Schuster and loosehead prop Clinton Vaiusu were also prominent for MAC who lost flanker AJ Fatialofa through a red card.
Tech 44 Clive 27
All Black Sevens rep Tamati Samuels grabbed a hattrick for Altherm Window Systems Napier Technical during this Whitmore Park victory.
First five-eighth Samuels was the player-of-the-match. His second five-eighth and fellow Gisborne Boys' High School product Ted Walters was also a lethal weapon in the Texans backline while hooker Conan Houkamau and flanker Todd Cushing were the pick of the forwards.
Clive performed well in the absence of their two international players, Baby Blacks pivot Tiaan Falcon amd Provincial Barbarians centre Jonah Lowe. Captain and hooker Jorian Tangaere and lock Josh Eden-Whaitiri had high workrates at the coalface and halfback Bronson Hokianga was full of enterprise.
