Rugby league: Fees deadline costs Napier Technical spot

Waka Leonard

Second qualifiers Napier Technical have been axed from Hawke's Bay's premier club rugby league semifinals for failing to meet a fees deadline.

Tech manager Garry White was out of town on work commitments and missed Saturday's round at the Hawke's Bay Regional Sports Park in Hastings when the final instalment of fees were due. He was prepared to chase up his players and pay the fees today but competition co-ordinator Mike Tamati said the deadline was missed.

"Rules are rules and I'm the one who has to give Tech the bad news. It's a shame because they are the hot team."

White and Tech coach Waka Leonard accepted the ruling from the Rugby League Hawke's Bay board and they hope their players learn to pay their contributions towards the fees on time in future.

"Our boys have known long enough and the ruling is fair. We've reminded the boys time and time again to pay up ... it's a pity as we would have had a good chance of winning the final," Leonard said.

Had Tech won the final 76-year-old Leonard would have won his 20th premier title after previously tasting grand final glory with several clubs including Omahu Huia, Taradale Eagles and EITSA.

MAC have qualified top for the semifinals to be played at Bill Mathewson Park, Hastings on Saturday despite starting the competition in the third round. They were awarded double points for each of the last two matches including Saturday's 40-18 win over new premier club Kahuranaki Warriors.

Defending champions Napier Pirate Panthers beat the champion club of the 2012 and '13 seasons, Outkast Sports, 50-18 in the other match. Saturday's semifinals will see a repeat of the weekend's draw.

Bridge Pa again showed they were a class above other Reserve grade opposition with the biggest score of the men's season, 94-6 over Wairoa Bulldogs, and Omahu Huia won a do-or-die match with Maraenui Phoenix, 22-18, for the fourth position in the semifinals. Bridge Pa will take on Omahu Huia in one semifinal and Flaxmere will take on Bay Bulldogs in the other semifinal.

Women's semifinals will see top qualifiers MAC take on Omahu Huia and Hastings play Tamatea.

- Bay's Te Maari MacGregor and Tori Lauvao-Araia were two of six Central Vipers players named in the Kiwi Ferns training squad after the national women's tournament ended in Rotorua yesterday.

The Central Vipers beat Auckland Vulcans 14-6 in the playoff for third. Counties-Manukau Stingrays beat the Akarana Falcons 34-0 in the final.

Earlier in the three-day tournament the Vipers beat Waicoa Bay Stallions 30-0, lost to the Stingrays 24-4, beat the Vulcans 20-0, beat the Wellington Orcas 30-0, beat Canterbury 24-8 and lost to the Falcons 12-10.