Rugby: Napier Pirate dedicating game to Ruru

Jonathan Ruru makes a charge. PHOTO/FILE

Table-topping Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports will dedicate today's seventh round Maddison Trophy clash to club stalwart Luke Ruru who died earlier this week.

"The boys are pretty keen to turn on a performance Luke would have been proud of," coach Andy Lord said last night as he pondered their away match against Ansin and Monteith Hastings Rugby and Sports at Elwood Park.

"We want to portray the man in the appropriate manner."

Ruru, who died of a heart attack on Wednesday, is the father of former Hawke's Bay Magpies halfback Michael Ruru and current Tanalised Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports halfback Jonathan Ruru. Lord said Jonathan indicated to him at training on Thursday night that he may play today.

"We told him it's his call and we gave him until the morning of the game to let us know," Lord added.

Adding to the visitors' motivational fuel for the match against the third-equal placed side is the fact second five-eighth Jackson Neilson and loosie Hamish Willis will be playing their 50th games. With Hastings missing at least three players in the countdown to next week's Ranfurly Shield defence against Horowhenua-Kapiti and the visitors none, Lord's troops should win by 11.

Should this be the case Carters Frame and Truss Taradale should secure third place outright when they host K9 Petfoods Clive at Taradale. It will be a surprise if the Mighty Maroons don't record a 20-point victory.

Tech Group of Companies Napier Technical co-coach Steve Woods said his team would need maximum points in their remaining three games to have a chance of making the semifinals. Without at least three of their Magpies they may struggle to do this against Northfuels Central in Waipukurau today however the Texans should still win by nine.

Like Tech the other fifth-equal outfit, Hawke's Bay Insurances Napier Old Boys Marist, will also chase maximum points to keep their semifinal hopes alive when they travel to Flaxmere Park to take on MAC. NOBM will be missing at least four Magpies and providing the enigmatic MAC play to their potential this encounter could produce the third draw of the comp.

Expect second-placed Progressive Meats Havelock North, the defending champions, to beat Tamatea by at least 30 at Bill Mathewson Park. This would put them first equal with Pirate if Lord's outfit don't secure maximum points against Hastings.

Should Hastings upset their visitors the villagers will take the outright lead. With six teams all with a sniff of semifinal berths this season's competition is shaping up to be the best for several seasons.

It will be a surprise if Havelock North and Pirate don't secure home semifinals. The pressure is on Taradale, Hastings, NOBM and Tech to capture the remaining semifinal berths.