Rugby: Fomai eyes Magpies' No 7 shirt

Tivaini Fomai can sniff a Hawke's Bay Magpies rugby team recall.
Should he continue to perform as he did for Hastings Rugby and Sports in yesterday's Tui Nash Cup fifth round 51-31 win against Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports at Park Island it should become more than a sniff.
Fomai, 25, who played five first-class games for the Magpies in 2006, was the player-of-the-match as Hastings took the lead in the competition albeit a temporary one should Napier Technical secure maximum points against Tamatea at Bill Mathewson Park this afternoon.
"With Lowie [Hurricanes and New Zealand Maori flanker Karl Lowe] still on the injured list I know I've got a chance. I just have to hope my body doesn't break down.
"At the same time, I know there is still room for improvement in my game ... I have to be more dominant at the contact area," said Fomai.
His side was well organised in all facets of the game. Coach Richard Saunders was in the luxurious position of being able to sub key players off, a wise move as he prepares for the loss of Magpies players next month.
Former Auckland age group winger Tino Nemani was another to enhance his chances of Magpies selection with a display which included two tries.
On the other wing, Poasa Faletoialo also scored two tries to become the competition's top tryscorer with six.
In-form Pirate prop Kelsey Miller scored his fourth try of the season in his last outing before joining the New Zealand Universities team tomorrow for a three-match tour including a "test" against their Aussie counterparts. Soft turnovers and poor option taking again let the hosts down.
Lock Maselino Paulino and winger Matt Gordon both grabbed hat-tricks as Havelock North walloped Taradale 89-19 at Anderson Park. Paulino and prop Logovi'i Mulipola are two Samoan players who have arrived in the Bay to be developed as future Magpies.
Both made Havelock's MVP list behind openside flanker Carl Anderson who celebrated his first outing for the hosts with a player-of-the-match performance.
"After losing to Tech in our last game at home this was a redemption game for us ... you know how proud we are of the home record established here during the past 16 years," said Havelock manager Conrad Waitoa.
"We were lazy right across the park. Havelock weren't that good, we made them look good," said Taradale coach Alby Baker.
His best players were hooker Karl Lawson, centre Luke Wright and halfback Hayden Topping.
MAC openside flanker Jarrod Edwards also produced a player-of-the-match performance in his team's 44-18 win against winless Central at Flaxmere's Ron Giorgi Park.
Prop Whetu Barber and blindside flanker Everard Reid were also prominent in the victory.
Fullback Brayden Hardwidge, prop-flanker Marcus Jackson and winger Sam Gray were a busy trio for Central.
Today's other game will see Clive host Napier Old Boys Marist at Farndon Park.
Scorers in Monday's paper.