Rugby league: Fabian Makea delivers for Tamatea

Tamatea forward Hamiora Rowlands unloads as he is tackled by Omahu Huia counterpart Cruze Nuku. Photo/Duncan Brown

Former Black Sox softballer Fabian Makea made a memorable return to his other favourite code, rugby league, at the weekend.

Makea, 39, scored a try and set up another for Tamatea as they maintained their unbeaten run in the Hawke's Bay's premier competition with a thrilling 30-28 third round victory against Omahu Huia.

His first try gave Tamatea a 16-10 halftime lead at the Hawke's Bay Regional Sports Park in Hastings on Saturday.

Makea turned out regularly for Tamatea between his softball commitments during his 20s. But he has been unable to do anything sporty for 12 months after his dog bit his leg as he tried to break up a fight between it and his sister's dog.

And that only adds to the significance of Makea's feat.

"It was awesome to have Fabian involved again. You can't beat his composure and experience in pressure situations like we had out there today," Tamatea coach and former Magpies and Unicorns speedster Jason Robinson said.

"I had Fabian on about his lung capacity but to be fair he's not getting any younger," Robinson quipped.

Makea's cousins Hamiora and Terira Rowlands were busy forwards for Tamatea.

Hamiora, a son of former Unicorn Des Rowlands, had a huge defensive workrate and shone with his ability to unload in the tackle.

Terira, who has the same running style as his father and former Unicorn Adrian Rowlands, always attracted more than one Omahu defender.

Hawks basketballer Mataeus Marsh and his cousin, New Zealand open men's touch rep Ash Robinson, impressed with their speed and footwork in the Tamatea backline.

Coach Robinson agreed he has a good mix of youth, experience, power and speed which should make his side competitive at the business end of the season.

"It's good to have a few old dogs along with rabbits like Ash and Mataeus who make things a little bit easier for the whole team.

"But it's the old story ... you still have to have commitment to trainings if you want to get the results you want."

Hooker Petera Kahui-Ariki, David Neho, who had shifts at centre and as a backrower, and veteran standoff Shane Wicken were valuable contributors to Omahu's cause.

Former New Zealand Universities rep Henry Heke, who co-coaches the Omahu team with national title-winning Hawke's Bay age group touch coach Raymond Rima, agreed his troops needed to work on their patience levels.

"I thought we had a good start and a strong finish. We just need to get the middle stages right now," Heke said.

"Watching the likes of Fabian [Makea] and Raumoa [Timu] and how they guided their younger forwards around the paddock made me realise I should be doing the same with our forwards.

"So it looks like I'll be pulling on the boots again," Heke added.

Unbeaten defending champions Bridge Pa beat Dannevirke Tigers 40-16 and Kahuranaki registered their first win of the season with a 44-30 victory against winless Napier Panthers.