"I missed a few kicks for touch today but I'm improving. I definitely played better than the previous week, when I returned to play too early after being in hospital with a chest infection."
Former Napier Boys' High School 1st XV first five-eighth Ethan Bradey celebrated his first starting XV appearance for the villagers with a player-of-the-match performance. He succeeded with all six of his attempts at goal and also impressed with his distribution and tactical kicking.
Loosies Tony Lamborn and Isaiah Renata and prop Emmanuel Maui had massive workrates in the winning forward pack, which had no passengers. Veteran lock Darren Deeley, flanker Hugh Reed and No8 Trent Boswell-Wakefield were all busy in the host pack, while Tane McGuire, who had stints at centre and first five-eighth, was the pick of the Tech backs.
NOBM 31 Pirate 14
Hawke's Bay Insurances Napier Old Boys Marist took the outright lead in the competition with this third consecutive bonus point victory at Park Island.
"Once again we left it pretty late to get the fourth try but we got it," NOBM manager Mike Smith said as his troops celebrated the retaining of the Leadbetter-Macdonald Cup in a jubilant changing room.
Fullback Liam Edwards was outstanding for NOBM. Lock Sean Skeet and versatile loosie Pouvi Fatialofa were inspirational in the winning pack.
Tanalised Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports coach Andy Lord said a season-ending collarbone injury collected by halfback Jarred McCarthy was a major blow to his side. Lock Matt Brown and hooker Hamish Willis were tireless workers in the Pirate pack, while centre Ted Symes had some memorable moments in Lord's backline.
Clive 29 Tamatea 22
Clive recorded their first win of the season in this thriller at Bill Mathewson Park.
Flankers Jesse Tuhua and Adam Junes were an influential pair in the winning pack. Halfback Jimmy Ellis-Jones provided quality service to the winning backline.
Tamatea co-coach Aaron Painter said his troops displayed huge improvement on their previous two games and had a couple of opportunities to win. Prominent in the hosts were first five-eighth Alesana Brown, second five-eighth Fai Kereti, who scored two tries, fullback Alex Harmer and prop Bai Bai, who Painter tipped to make the Hawke's Bay Development team this season.
Taradale 29 MAC 10
Hawke's Bay Magpies No8 Mark Atkins grabbed a hat-trick as Carters Frame and Truss Taradale retained the Hawke's Bay Challenge Shield with this win on home turf.
While Atkins was the player-of-the-match, powerful prop Ezrah Amituanai's impact off the bench with 30 minutes remaining was significant in the unbeaten Mighty Maroons' victory. Centre Leafi Tupuola was a big threat in the Taradale backline.
MAC coach Anthony Morley said ill discipline proved costly for his side, who conceded 21 unanswered points when they were down to 14 men. Second five-eighth and vice-captain Jackson Waerea and key loosie Api Sione were both sinbinned but Taradale had to wait until the 55th minute to score their first try.
Busy No8 and captain Everard Reid and promising prop Waven Hapi were prominent in the MAC pack. Cook Islands halfback Andrew Putairi was classy in the visiting backline.
Hastings 43 Central 24
IMS Payroll Hastings Rugby and Sports co-coach Karl Jones praised the competitiveness of their Northfuels Central visitors after this Elwood Park win.
"That's the best Central team we've hosted for a long time," Jones said.
Flanker Mark Ioane, captain and lock Tom Parsons and No8 Geoff Cridge were the forwards who made Jones' MVP list. Centre-winger Neria Fomai and first five-eighth Ioane Ioane were constructive in the winning backline.
Central manager Tony Lepelaars was proud of the manner his troops recovered from a poor start to trail 22-17 at halftime and pointed out it was only in the final five minutes that Hastings ran away with the game.
Lock Hugh Graham and openside flanker Robbie Barr impressed in the Central pack.
