Rugby: Tuis coach cautious in countdown to televised game

Hawke's Bay Tuis lock Hanna Brough, pictured on the job as a physiotherapist, stole plenty of lineout ball against Taranaki on Saturday. Photo / File

At first glance the Hawke's Bay Tuis women's rugby team's 55-10 win against Taranaki in Inglewood on Saturday suggests a polished rehearsal for this weekend's televised match against North Harbour in Napier.

But Tuis coach Steve Woods wasn't convinced as he yesterday began planning for the Farah Palmer Cup Championship match at McLean Park.

"To be fair Taranaki struggled a bit. I watched television coverage of North Harbour's win against Tasman at the weekend and they were very good, with plenty of big running forwards. We will have to come up with a different plan to beat them."

Black Ferns pivot Krysten Cottrell was again prominent for the fourth-placed Tuis against winless Taranaki. She controlled the tempo of the game, scored two tries, kicked five conversions and impressed with her cover defence.

Fullback Shaylee Tipiwai also scored two tries, one of which was a 65m intercept. Centre Te Maari MacGregor created plenty of opportunities for her outside runners.

Lock Hanna Brough stole several of Taranaki's lineout throws and substitute No 8 Kathleen Brown shone with her impact.

■ The Hawke's Bay under-19s beat Taranaki 40-13 in the playoff for seventh at their Taupo-hosted national tournament which finished on Saturday.

"It was good to finish on a high and the boys deserved it after turning things around through the week," Bay manager Mike Smith said referring to the 90-0 loss to Bay of Plenty the previous Sunday and a 35-33 loss to Tasman on Wednesday.

Blindside flanker Jacob Stephenson and No 8 Devan Flanders had massive defensive work rates and impressed with their ability to force turnovers at breakdowns. Halfback Folau Fakatava and first five-eighth Lincoln McClutchie combined well and McClutchie finished the game with two tries and four conversions.

Fullback Nikau McGregor was another to impress in the Bay backline.

■ The Hawke's Bay Saracens maintained their unbeaten run in the Hurricanes Development competition with a 43-19 win against the Wellington Samoans in Wellington on Saturday.

As the score suggests, the Bay outfit were dominant and led 38-0 before the hosts attempted a comeback. Bay manager Tim Jones said his troops have to get only one competition point off Manawatu in Napier this weekend to win the competition for a third consecutive year.

Saracens winger Saea Paese used his gas well to get on the outside of his opposites and deserved his hat-trick. Midfielder Neria Fomai was creative.

Blindside flanker Damien Scott, lock Elijah Martin and hooker Jack Nelson-Murray provided plenty of grunt to the winning pack.