Rugby: Injuries force changes in trial lineups

Michael Allardice

The withdrawal of New Zealand under-20s lock Geoff Cridge has taken some of the gloss off tonight's Hawke's Bay Magpies rugby trial in Waipukurau.

Cridge was to mark his Hastings Rugby and Sports clubmate Tom Parsons, who is captaining the Hawke's Bay XV in tonight's clash at Central Park. However, Cridge collected an injury in a club game last weekend and his berth in the Saracens XV has been taken by Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports' Michael Allardice and Allardice's spot on the subs bench has been taken by versatile Napier Old Boys Marist lock-loosie Sean Skeet.

There will still be a battle between club locks with the Taradale pair of Scott Wielinga and Angelo Mufana marking each other. Former Magpies captain and centre Jason Shoemark also collected a knock at the weekend and has withdrawn from the Saracens XV he was to captain.

Hastings Rugby and Sports' Timo Vaiusu replaces Shoemark in the No13 jersey and Napier Technical's former New Zealand Under-20s rep Penikolo Latu replaces Vaiusu.

Havelock North's Mikey Vuicakau, who was originally named on the Saracens XV's subs bench, will replace Latu on the Hawke's Bay XV's bench. Hastings Rugby and Sports utility back and former Samoa Sevens rep Tom Iosefo, who was to be on the Hawke's Bay XV's subs bench, has made himself unavailable.

Teams for the 6pm trial:

Hawke's Bay XV: Matt Berquist, Trinity Spooner-Neera, Ted Walters, Billy Ropiha, Liam Edwards, Tyrone Elkington-MacDonald, Ellery Wilson, Joseph Penitito, Tom Stanley, Aaron McPhee, Tom Parsons, Angelo Mufana, Ezrah Amituanai, Jorian Tangaere, Mark Braidwood.

Substitutes, forwards: Jarvy Aoake, Jody Allen, Ben Parsons, Trent Boswell-Wakefield.

Backs: Isaac Paewai, Jackson Neilson, Mikey Vuicakau.

Saracens XV: Ryan Tongia, Penikolo Latu, Timo Vaiusu, Tane McGuire, Noa Uaisele, Manihera Eden, Adam Ross, Mark Atkins, Tom Burns, Kaleb Sweet, Michael Allardice, Scott Wielinga, Jason Marshall, Mikey Feagai, Jason Long.

Substitutes, forwards: Hamish Willis, Kelly Petrowski, Adrian Barone, Sean Skeet.

Backs: Chris Eaton, Ethan Bradey, Dan McIntyre.