Napier Old Boys Marist's substitute forward Tom Bywater slips out of an attempted tackle from Taradale prop Mike McLachlan during Saturday's draw. Photo/Glenn Taylor
It's almost the business end and it couldn't be more nail-biting in Hawke's Bay's Maddison Trophy premier club rugby competition.
Three teams, Hawke's Bay Insurances Limited Napier Old Boys Marist, Tanalised Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports and IMS Payroll Hastings Rugby and Sports are in a tussle for the third and fourth semifinal berths, which will be decided during this Saturday's ninth round.
Napier Old Boys Marist will host Hastings Rugby and Sports at Park Island in a crucial encounter for both teams.
"The equation is simple for us ... we have to win," NOBM manager Mike Smith said.
"If we lose all three of us could end up on the same points and then we would miss out on the semifinals because we have lost to both of those sides," he explained.
However NOBM proved they are ready for the crunch match when they drew 3-all in their away eighth-round clash against Carters Frame and Truss Taradale on Saturday.
"Our coaches were full of praise for the depth in the team and the club after the draw," Smith said.
"Both teams had the opportunities to score tries but good defence prevented them. We secured the draw with a last-second penalty from Liam in what was his only attempt at goal," he added, referring to first five-eighth Liam Rukuwai.
Taradale coach Blair Cross was thrilled his troops who, playing without seven Magpies squad members - two more than NOBM - retained the Challenge Shield for the season.
"It was good old-fashioned rugby. In the second half we had 80 per cent of the territory and 60 per cent of the possession but still couldn't score which was a credit to NOBM's on-the-line defence."
Captain Andrew Gardner, who had stints at No8 and flanker, was again a workaholic in the host pack. Openside flanker Jaaron Fritz and halfback Karl Hewitt also made Cross' MVP list. Openside flanker William Benson and lock Sean Skeet were tireless defenders in the visiting pack, while experienced second-five-eighth Asa Ene marshalled NOBM's midfield defence well.
Hastings 27 Tech 23
Hastings kept their semifinal hopes alive with what co-coach Aaron Bartlett described as a "frustrating win" against the defending champions at Elwood Park.
Prop Dennis Tapusua produced a player-of-the-match display for the hosts. Fellow prop Tali Faiumu did well to play the entire 80 minutes after completing 40 in the curtainraiser. Captain and hooker Tivaini Fomai and locks Ben Parsons and Tom Burns also provided plenty of grunt in the engine room.
Tech Group of Companies Napier Technical manager Cyril Whitburn was impressed with the manner in which his side fronted after their semifinal hopes were dashed the previous week. Captain and openside flanker Hugh Reed and veteran lock Darren Deeley again impressed in the Tech pack, while second five-eighth Tane McGuire had a massive defensive workrate.
Pirate 66 Tamatea 12
Tanalised Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports title hopes were dealt a major blow when centre Bryn Uriarau left the field with a season-ending rib injury during this Tamatea Park victory.
Uriarau had scored his second consecutive hattrick and taken his season try tally to 16 before departing. Fullback Ted Symes was again full of enterprise in the Pirate backline.
Busy No8 Aaron McPhee, flanker Gerome Naera and hooker Hamish Willis were all prominent in the winning pack. Eight of the Tamatea players were away at a wedding so the majority of their players who took the field had already played 80 minutes for the reserve-grade side.
The fact they did this reflected the heart within the Tamatea camp. Powerful prop Paipai Siafolau and first five-eighth Jimmy Harris were Tamatea's best.
Central 30 Clive 22
Northfuels Central fullback Karl Lepelaars and halfback Tom Beachen celebrated their 50th and blazer games in style with this victory at Waipukurau's Central Park.
Their team secured a bonus point for four tries as they grabbed a share of sixth place on the table with Tech. Blindside flanker Warwick Slingsby and prop Liam O'Dowd were the architects of lengthy periods of dominance from the host pack, while centre Kane Nepe-Apatu was constructive in the winning backline.
Clive led 17-15 at halftime but head coach Andy Green said his side paid the price for conceding two tries during the first 10 minutes of the second half.
"We were playing catch-up after that which was disappointing. But it was an open and entertaining game and the Central coaches deserve praise for what they have achieved."
Hooker Jorian Tangaere, his brother-in-law and blindside flanker Jesse Tuhua and winger Sakopo Ofa all made Green's MVP list.
Havelock 40 MAC 14
Progressive Meats Havelock North maintained their unbeaten run and secured the top spot for the semifinals with this Flaxmere Park win.
Halfback Isaac Paewai and second-five J'ndre Liebenberg, a former MAC player, were both classy in the winning backline and scored two tries each. Tighthead prop Emmanuel Maui, No8 Luke Ottley and lock Richard Tichborne led the villagers' pack by example. MAC did well to trail 19-7 at halftime.
Captain and No8 Everard Reid again proved he is among the province's best club players. Prop Clinton Vaiusu and hooker Teremoana Joel also had memorable patches in the pack, while halfback Colin Hokianga and first-five Tianua Poto gelled well in the MAC backline.