Sport: Most events on track in Hawke's Bay and with travelling teams

Hawks forward Darryl Taylor will be hoping to pick up the usual endorsement from teammates on the bench in tonight's 7pm tip off against the Sharks but plans B and C are in place. PHOTO/FILE

Marquee Good Friday sport events in Hawke's Bay are on schedule today despite the aftermath of gale-force winds and rain overnight.

The SIT Zerofees Southland Sharks had boarded their flight into Hawke's Bay Airport in Napier shortly before midday from Wellington due to flight delays severe weather warnings for their tip off against the Taylor Hawks from 7pm at the Pettigrew-Green Arena, Taradale, today.

"I had spoken to their general manager, Jill Bolger, and they were looking at a plan B of taking vehicles but if they get stuck on the road for some reason then it'll be plan C," said Hawks general manager Kevin Wagg as a bright, blue sky morning greeted the province after stormy night that carried over into the wee hours of this morning.

The Sharks lost their National Basketball League (NBL) match to leaders Wellington Saints by 111-93 last night in the capital.

Wagg said he also had bracketed a plan B with PG Arena general manager Dan Rodden to stage the Sharks' game at the same tip-off time on Sunday.

"We can't play it tomorrow [Saturday] because they have a boxing promotion there," he said.

If tonight's game is postponed to Sunday the NBL have endorsed the reserve day.

Day one of the Toyota Optimist National Championship at the Ahuriri waterfront remains on track for an 11am start in the open fleet class involving 179 sailors, including 28 Australian competitors, five from New Caledonia and four from Tahiti.

However, the green fleet category, of 71 "learning to race" sailors, has been cancelled in the Napier Sailing Club-hosted event that has lured .

Twenty teams have entered for teams' segment of the regatta on Sunday.

The nationals is the last ranking regatta for the sailing season with a top-five national berth up for grabs for those keen to hang tough in the Optimist World Championship in Malaysia in July as well as the Europe and Oceania championships.

Club administrator Adrian Mannering said the open fleet class of sailors were sea savvy and thrived in tricky conditions.

Several top-10 national optimists are in the line up.

The Hawke's Bay Rugby Football Union premier club matches will kick off at 3pm with hosting teams expected to ensure everything runs smoothly.

"No grounds are closed. If there are any issues the clubs hosting games have to make sure any debris is cleared in time," said HBRFU club development officer Gary MacDonald said today.

MacDonald had arrived at the union office at McLean Park to find chairs that had been stacked in the wheelchair bay in readiness for the Hurricanes v Brumbies Super Rugby game on next Friday from 7pm had lost their perch.

"They are scattered where ever they are so they won't be going anywhere right now until we pick them up again," he said, alarmed with the chaos the winds had created.

The Conroy Removals Napier City Rovers soccer team were intending to depart for Palmerston North at 10am for a 2.30pm kick off against Palmerston North Marist in their round three Central League match today.

"We're still on track. I spoke to their coach and he hasn't heard anything different either," said Blues coach Bill Robertson of the match to be staged at Memorial Park, Palmerston North.

"If the Gorge is closed then I suppose we'll be going through Saddle Rd," Robertson said although he recalled this time last year Memorial Park was "pretty boggy" but it was perhaps still the best venue.

The Hawke's Bay Meeanee Speedway Easter Weekend meeting is scheduled to start at 5pm today with the gates opening at 3pm for the superstock and stock car best pairs racing.

"The track's fine. I've just been out there to check it but there's quite a bit of water in the pit area so it's all go for racing unless we get more rain in the next four or five hours," said promoter Bruce Robertson today.

A jovial Robertson said the car park area also was fine but "those in the pit area will just have to wear their gumboots".

The East Coast superstocks and stock cars will be staged tomorrow at the same time.