Rugby: Hawke's Bay Tuis' win a costly one

Tuis winger Felicity Powdrell leaps through the Tasman Mako defence during yesterday's win. Photo/Duncan Brown

Two competition points from the Hawke's Bay Tuis women's rugby team's away game against Manawatu on Saturday will be enough to earn a home semifinal.

However the Tuis are likely to miss the services of Black Ferns first five-eighth and former Manawatu player Krysten Cottrell for the Farah Palmer Cup clash.

Tuis head coach Steve Woods confirmed Cottrell has a knee injury which forced her to leave the field 15 minutes into yesterday's 47-12 fifth round win against Tasman Mako at Napier's Park Island.

"It was a pretty physical game and our girls are upbeat with their win," Woods said.

Powerful No 8 Gemma Woods captained the Tuis in the absence of injured regular captain Amy Williams and left the field with an eye socket injury in the 60th minute.

Openside flanker Niamh Jefferson, who scored two tries, and locks Hanna Brough and Rebekah Hurae were also influential figures in the Tuis engine room.

Former Black Fern Emma Jensen again displayed her class in the halfback and first five-eighth positions for the Tuis.

Saracens beaten

Meanwhile, Hurricanes Development competition winners for the past three seasons, Hawke's Bay Saracens, were beaten 59-31 by Wellington Development at Napier's Park Island on Saturday.

"We were able to compete for the first 60 minutes but during the final 20 Wellington showed the benefits of having played at a higher level consistently during recent weeks," Saracens manager Tim Jones said.

He was referring to the fact the Wellington Development team played the likes of Auckland Development, Canterbury Development and Waikato Development earlier in the season.

"Because of the nature of the squad the Magpies took to Christchurch this weekend we didn't get any Magpies hand me downs either," Jones added.

The Saracens tight five functioned well for three quarters of the game and scored three tries from lineout drives.

Saracens No 8 Phil McRoberts had a huge workrate and was accurate at lineout time.

Saracens first five-eighth Star Timu directed play with authority and combined well with second five-eighth Neria Fomai who proved plenty of opportunities for his outside backs.