Rugby: Explosive start keeps unbeaten record intact

An emphatic start was the key to Napier West maintaining their unbeaten run on Day 3 of the Wakely Shield rugby tournament at Taradale yesterday.

"They got stuck into us during the first 15 minutes and we played catch-up from then on," Hastings West manager Carl Deacon said after his side's 27-21 loss to Napier West in the day's feature game at the under-50kg event at Tareha Reserve.

Midfielder Kyle Cornelissen produced a player-of-the-match performance for Napier West. Another to shine in the winning backline was winger Jake Elsworth-Robertson, who scored two tries.

Openside flanker Andy Ngametua was a tireless worker for Hastings West.

Napier East fullback Thomas Baker scored 25 points in a player-of-the-match performance as his team walloped Wairoa 93-0 in the other match.

Baker scored three of his team's 15 tries and kicked five conversions.

Blindside flanker Tanielu Taa had an impressive workrate in the Napier East pack. Openside flanker Zinzan Ropitini was the best of the Wairoa players.

Today's games will see Napier East take on Hastings East and Wairoa play Napier West. Hastings West have the bye.

Scorers:

Napier West 27 (Jake Elsworth-Robertson 2, Kyle Cornelissen, Patrick Teddy, Keegan Christian-Goss tries; Christian-Goss con) Hastings West 21 (David Tuanaki, Ben Frame, Charles Gillies tries; Jordan Thompson-Dunn 3 cons). HT: 10-7.

Napier East 93 (Thomas Baker 3, Sheridan Panapa 2, Dakota Panapa 2, Luke Gichard 2, David Puna, Te Kahika Thompson, Tanielu Taa, Leighton Shaw, Joshua Chamberlain, Dante Hohepa tries; Baker 5, Shaw 3, Taa cons) Wairoa 0.

Standings: Hastings West 8, Hastings East 7, Napier West 7, Napier East 7, Wairoa 0.