Migao Lauano, NOBM substitute back, celebrates his try in the final seconds.
The emotion got the better of Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports on Saturday.
"It was our worst game in the comp. It was full of errors and 50-50 passes which didn't find their target but it has been a disjointed week," Pirate manager Charles Reid said after his team's 16-6 loss to Ansin & Monteith Hastings Rugby and Sports in their seventh-round Tui Maddison Trophy encounter at Elwood Park.
He was referring to the death of club stalwart Luke Ruru last week. Ruru, who had a heart attack, was the father of Tanalised Napier Pirate halfback Jonathan Ruru and former Magpies halfback Michael Ruru. His funeral will be in Napier today.
In sharp contrast, Hastings Rugby and Sports produced their best effort of the season as they handed the visitors their first loss.
"We've been trying to play well for the whole game and that was close to it. Just as our win against Napier Old Boys Marist was six weeks ago," Hastings co-coach Karl Jones said.
Lock Ben Parsons produced a player-of-the-match performance for the hosts. He collected hip and knee injuries but soldiered on.
The Hastings frontrow of props Paulao Nu'u and Dennis Tapusoa and hooker Aaron McGrail functioned well while midfielders Ausage Fomai and Mike Ward defended admirably.
Busy No8 Hamish Willis, who with second five-eighth Jackson Neilson was playing his 50th match for the visitors, and lock Matt Brown were prominent in the Pirate pack. Jonathan Ruru was again classy.
Central 22 Tech 19
Northfuels Central ended Tech Group of Companies Napier Technical's semifinal hopes with this Waipukurau victory.
Tech led 19-17 with a minute left when Central prop Marcus Jackson scored the winning try. For Jackson it was a belated birthday present as he turned 30 on Thursday.
"We've played some pretty good rugby during the past month and this win was a continuation of that. Our older guys stepped up today and the younger blokes followed their example," Central coach Exham Wichman said.
Prop Andrew Martin, loosie Tomo Fogarty and halfback Daniel Hardwidge made Wichman's MVP list. Unforced errors and a lack of intensity were features of the disappointing display from 2013 champions Tech.
Their best were No8 Levi Guildford, fullback Nathan Ramsay and flanker Izaiah Martin.
NOBM 36 MAC 21
Hawke's Bay Insurances Limited Napier Old Boys Marist kept their faint semifinal hopes alive with this Flaxmere Park win.
Substitute back Migao Lauano's bonus-point try in the final second could prove crucial in a fortnight. Regular centre Chris Johnston produced a player-of-the-match effort at openside flanker for the visitors, a position he hadn't played in since 2008.
Winger David Benson and second five-eighth Sam Giddens were others to impress for NOBM. MAC coach Anthony Morley said a bombed try because of a forward pass when his team trailed 23-21 proved costly but he was happy with the competitive display.
Former New Zealand under-20 winger Penikolo Latu was thirsty for work for the hosts in the wing and centre positions. Second five-eighth Jackson Waerea and rookie locks Teina Huia and Manase Lauvao were also prominent for MAC.
Havelock 80 Tamatea 0
Former Magpies winger Mikey Vuicakau grabbed a hattrick for defending champions Progressive Meats Havelock North in this Bill Mathewson Park walloping.
Nine of the villagers' 12 tries were scored by the backs, a tribute to the solid platform provided by the forwards. Dynamic No8 Zane Rangi, lock Bronson Primmer and prop Matt Middleton provided plenty of grunt in the winning pack.
The Havelock coaches praised Tamatea for the manner in which they kept the visitors tryless for 15 minutes in the second half. Gutsy flanker Tiwai Tomoana, utility Henare Harris, who played flanker and second five-eighth, and winger Tiwai Tomoana shone with their gritty approach for the hosts.
Taradale 77 Clive 7
Powerful No8 Kaleb Sweet scored a hattrick for Carters Frame and Truss Taradale in this thrashing on home turf.
Close behind Sweet in the battle for player-of-the-match honours were halfback Thomas Eden in his first starting XV appearance and regular lock Angelo Mufana who played the first two thirds of the game at openside flanker.
K9 Petfoods Clive coach Andy Green heaped kudos on Taradale for the effort they produced without three Magpies and the tremendous depth they have developed in the club. His best were loosies James Tango, Rocky Pohatu and Lucas Goodin and winger Peter Bassett.