Tech hooker Conan Houkamau protects the ball during another of his team's rolling mauls against NOBM. Photo/Duncan Brown
Napier Technical premier rugby team co-coach Steve Woods paid Napier Old Boys Marist the ultimate compliment on Saturday.
"I've been around the Hawke's Bay rugby scene for a while now and I haven't seen as good a premier team as that for at least 20 years," Woods said after his team lost 32-5 loss to the unbeaten defending champions in the feature Tui Nash Cup round-five match at Napier's Park Island.
Altherm Window Systems Napier Technical had just one loss going into the game and their supporters turned up with high hopes. While the Texans started well and their set piece play particularly at scrum time was impressive they were too inconsistent, too one-dimensional on attack, guilty of taking poor options, didn't have the same fitness levels as their hosts and didn't have the same firepower off the pine.
It wasn't the farewell Tech's lock and Magpies utility forward Trent Boswell-Wakefield deserved before embarking on an OE stint. It was Hawke's Bay Insurances Limited Napier Old Boys Marist's 19th consecutive win and head coach Craig Gowler was impressed with his troops' effort once they got their hands on the ball.
"We had to soak up a lot of pressure first and you're right ... our superior depth and fitness levels came into play. There is a lot of rugby to play yet this season and our goal is to get better and better and part of doing that is respecting each team we face."
Lock Hannon Brighouse, No 8 Joe Penitito and flanker Chris Johnston were inspirational in the cohesive host pack. Magpie Ellery Wilson, who had shifts at halfback and first five-eighth was the best of the NOBM backs.
Boswell-Wakefield, flanker Isaiah Martin, hooker Conan Houkamau and prop Tere Joel all made valuable contributions to the Tech pack.
Taradale 20 Pirate 18
Japanese first five-eighth Yoshihito Sato kicked a last-minute penalty from 43 metres out to give Carters Frame and Truss Taradale this victory at Tamatea Park.
"We struggled to build phases, didn't respect the ball and were fortunate to come away with the win," Taradale club chairman Tim Combs said.
Openside flanker Jacob Baker was a workaholic in the visiting pack. Second five-eighth Billy Ropiha and Japanese winger Seiyu Kohara were the pick of the Taradale backs.
Tanalised Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports manager Charles Reid said his troops were disappointed with the manner in which they let their standards slip on the previous week's effort. Former Tapuae No 8 Jesse Kapene was a powerful figure in the Pirate pack. Captain and second five-eighth Hayden Hann and former Tapuae halfback Kingi Te Amo operated well in the hosts backline.
Hastings 36 Tamatea 12
Ansin & Monteith Hastings Rugby and Sports experimented with several players in new positions as they registered this win at Elwood Park.
"It was a scrappy game but we were pleased with the way we shut down those talented Tamatea backs and also with the way wet got the bonus point for four tries or more," Hastings co-manager James Rosenberg said.
Second five-eighth Luke Rosvall and centre Ausage Fomai combined well in the Hastings backline. Promising hooker Jacob Devery provided plenty of grunt to the hosts engine room.
With classy stints at first five-eighth and fullback Ash Robinson-Bartlett joined his cousin and centre Hunta Marsh as the pick of the Tamatea backs. Tighthead prop Mason Kean was the kingpin in the visiting pack.
Havelock North 52 MAC 12
Progressive Meats Havelock North also had players shining in different positions as they posted this emphatic Flaxmere Park win.
Regular pivot Dan Snee shifted out to second five-eighth and impressed with his carries. Snee also converted six of his team's eight tries. Regular lock Phil McRoberts was tireless in the No 8 role while regular midfielder Jesse Paewai again played on the wing where he was a rock on defence, sound under the high ball and powerful on the carry.
Experienced second five-eighth Vai Kereti was again outstanding in the MAC backline. Prop Clinton Vaiusu and No 8 Larry Olive had a never-say die approach in the host pack.
Clive 46 Central 15
Northfuels Central head coach Exham Wichman heaped kudos on Clive's regime after his team's defeat at Farndon Park.
"Clive were more clinical and had bigger boys. At 15-10 down at halftime I thought we were in the hunt. But while Clive kicked on in the second half we went into our shells," Wichman said.
With stints at flanker and lock Lucas Goodin produced a player-of-the-match display for K9 Petfoods Clive. Consistent lock Josh Eden-Whaitiri and captain and hooker Jorian Tangaere were also prominent in the riversiders pack while promising halfback Bronson Hokianga again served his backline well.
Loosies Jason Cutbush and Tomo Fogarty were again gutsy for Central at the coalface. Hooker Mitchell McFadden also made Wichman's MVP list.