RUGBY: Huxford takes heat well

Shane Hurndell
Phil Huxford appears ready to continue the tradition of former Otago rugby halfbacks making an impact with the Napier Old Boys' Marist club.
A former Otago Colt who has replaced former Otago halfback Donovan Hall (travelling in Europe) in the side, Huxford was one of several newcomers to impress in NAPIER OLD BOYS MARIST's 29-3 Nash Cup first round victory over HASTINGS RUGBY AND SPORTS at Napier's Park Island yesterday.
He opened the scoring with a try in the second minute after kicking ahead and snatching the ball from the grasp of opposing fullback Zane Houia. Huxford, who arrived in Otago from Wellington the year Hall left to come to the Bay, enjoyed his first outing in the Bay.
"I was a little bit rusty. But it was good to be playing in these hot conditions not like the ice and stuff in Otago," said the 23-year-old who is available for rep rugby.
Irish hooker David Garry, Scottish lock Aaron Iddens and winger Migao Lauano, one of 11 former NOBM Colts players in yesterday's squad of 23, were the other newcomers to score tries while prop Hayden Penny who returned to the club this year also scored. Penny had a huge workrate in the dominant host pack.
Forty-year-old lock Alan Gardiner and No 8 Glen Varcoe were others to shine in the winning pack, which functioned well considering the early start to the season. Lock Daniel Davies was the pick of the visiting forwards, who struggled once their captain and hooker Wayne Te Whaiti was forced from the field with an injury.
First five-eighth Peter Connell operated well in the visiting backline.
In the division two curtainraiser between the two clubs, Hastings Rugby and Sports winger Travis Carrington scored all 17 of the Hastings side's points in their 17-7 win. He scored three tries and kicked a conversion.
Neil Blunden scored all of the host's points with a try and a conversion.
Both games are part of the Easter weekend second round in Hawke's Bay's club competition but they were played yesterday as both clubs will be at the North Island Spillane Cup tournament at Easter.
* Scorers: Napier Old Boys' Marist 29 (Phil Huxford, Aaron Iddens, Hayden Penny, Migao Lauano, David Garry tries; Greg Meredith, Lauano cons), Hastings Rugby and Sports 3 (Peter Connell pen). HT: 5-3.
* New Zealand Sevens representative Tafai Ioasa is working as the Hastings Rugby and Sports Club's development officer.
Ioasa, who went into camp with the national side today to prepare for the World Cup, will play for the club once his international commitments have ended in June and will be available for Hawke's Bay representative sides.