"We contributed to the three best game of the week and once again we had our opportunities to win this one. But our set piece didn't function as well as it could have and East were better at the breakdown," Dannevirke head coach Simon Prouting explained.
Flankers Hayden Weber and Dylan Taylor were tireless defenders for Dannevirke. Captain and No 8 Angus Prouting, vice captain and hooker Manaia Hauiti and locks Rico Phillips and George Prouting were powerful on the carry. Fullback Josh Augustine was the pick of the Dannevirke backs.
"Dannevirke were tough nuts to crack. It was a great game of rugby," East assistant coach Mark Solomon said.
Winger Daniel Aitken was again outstanding for East. First five-eighth Joel Russell relished the quality service he received from both of his halfbacks, Noah Ioasa, a son of former All Black Sevens player Tafai Ioasa, and Myles Harding.
Openside flanker Sovereign Staples was superb on defence and powerful on the carry for East.
Defending champions Hastings West kept their title hopes alive with a 54-5 win against Wairoa. West led 40-0 at halftime and head coach Luke Rurawhe admitted things didn't go his troops way in the second half.
"We lost our momentum. But at the same time we've made four huge steps towards retaining the shield. However we won't be taking Central lightly in our last game and I'm sure we will be up for it."
Inside back James Harper was West's player-of-the-match. He directed the backline well succeeded with seven of his eight attempts at goal.
Centre Monte Timu scored four tries. Frontrower Membrenz Tahu and No 8 Payton Godinet were the pick of the West forwards. Wairoa head coach Sid Ropitini was stoked with his team's second half.
"We got done out wide in the first half but in the second half we had 75 per cent of the possession and showed some belief."
Lock Shane Ashby and No 8 Kael Thompson-Maxwell were again work horses in the Wairoa engine room.
Expect plenty of banter between the respective halfbacks when Dannevirke take on Wairoa from 12noon tomorrow. Wairoa's No 9 Kazhmia Shelford is an aunty of Dannevirke's halfback Dreiz Huata.
Other games tomorrow will see Napier take on Hastings East from 11am and Central play Hastings West from 1pm.
■Scorers:
Napier 69 (Ryan Tantrum 2, Juan Ross, Iosefa Sa, Tyler Vette, Jordan Dvorsky, Tama Pohatu, Te Aotaki Edmonds, Cleo Roderick, Cohen Batterham, Ricco Tran tries; Vette 7 cons), Central 0. HT: 33-0.
Hastings East 10 (Daniel Aitken, Calvin O'Rourke tries), Dannevirke 7 (Angus Prouting try; Josh Augustine con). HT: 5-0.
Hastings West 54 (Monte Timu 4, Jonty Roil, Payton Godinet, Crichton Crawford, Izaiah Craig tries; James Harper 7 cons), Wairoa 5 (Shane Ashby try). HT: 40-0.
Points: Napier 7, Hastings West 7, Hastings East 6, Dannevirke 2, Central 2, Wairoa 0.
