RUGBY: `Lucky' Pirates seek progress

Shane Hurndell
Hawke's Bay club rugby's glamour team, Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports, have yet to fire but captain Aayden Clarke isn't pushing the panic button.
"Yes we're struggling to get things together but we were always going to use the Nash Cup round to work on combinations. Once the Maddison Trophy round starts there will be no excuses," Clarke said after his team's "lucky" win on Saturday.
It took an injury-time try to winger Karl Mapp to give Tanalised Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports a 30-29 victory over Tamatea at Park Island. With his 10 points, Clarke, who kicked two conversions, a penalty and a dropped goal, became the first player in the Tui Nash Cup competition to pass the 50-point mark.
Like Mapp, No.8 Pama Petia also scored two tries for the hosts. Pirate's star-studded pack enjoyed only small patches of dominance against a Tamatea pack which boxed well above their weight. Centre Karl Broughton had a high defensive workrate in the winning backline.
Locks Kereama Mataira and Logan Beaton impressed with their enthusiasm in the Tamatea pack. As usual, Tamatea's backline was entertaining and winger Misi Tulia made the most of his opportunities with two tries, including one from a quick throw which caught the Pirate defence napping. Fullback Donovan Nepia was again full of enterprise.
Tamatea coach Matt Marsh described his troops as "15 minutes too unfit" - an indication that they, like the Pirate outfit, will be more of a force later in the season. Promising openside flanker Adam Bradey scored four tries as Havelock North secured their berth in next weekend's final with a 76-3 drubbing of Western Suburbs at Anderson Park.
Fellow loosies Mike Sisam and Rangi Vallance also hunted well while halfback Chris Eaton made the most of his first action of the season with 20 minutes off the bench.
First five-eighth Greg Mullany displayed clever touches in a Suburbs side which started the game with 13 players and managed to field 15 after 20 minutes.
Central ran in 10 tries as they walloped MAC 62-0 in the other Black Section game played at Nelson Park, Hastings. Openside flanker Bryce Barr and centre James Hamilton were both prominent in a polished team performance from the hosts.
Defending champions Taradale produced a convincing rehearsal for next weekend's final with a 55-7 drubbing of Napier Technical at Whitmore Park. Last year's top tryscorer in premier rugby, winger Josh Mahoni, scored for the first time this season with a hat-trick for the Mighty Maroons.
Fellow winger Willie Fletutulu and lock Sean Maloney also impressed for the visitors. Prop Vinnie Fetuani was outstanding for Tech.
"We did a lot of good things and while the score may not reflect it our boys were pretty gutsy," said Tech co-coach Stu Luttrell.
Clive produced the White Section's upset with a 17-9 victory over Napier Old Boys Marist at Farndon Park.
Captain and openside flanker Karl Lowe was outstanding in a Clive pack where veteran Orcades Crawford, fellow prop Andy Green, and loosies Sam Ebbitt and Cheyne Haimona also made valuable contributions.
Centre Paul Bailey and replacement halfback Vaine Maui were the best of the hosts' backs. First five-eighth Eddie Hekenui was the pick of the NOBM backs and No.8 David Byrne tried hard in a beaten pack.
Fullback James Rosenberg scored 22 points in United Gaming Hastings Rugby and Sports' 32-10 win over Otane at Ellwood Park. Rosenberg scored two tries and kicked three conversions and two penalties.
Prop Joel Manson and No.8 Chris Brightwell were others to impress for the hosts. Otane had a better second half. With his high defensive workrate prop Leon Taite was the visitors' player-of-the-day.
* Next weekend's playoffs: Final, Havelock North v Taradale; For 3rd, Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports v NOBM; For 5th, Tamatea v Hastings Rugby and Sports; For 7th, Clive v Central; For 9th, Otane v MAC; For 11th, Western Suburbs v Napier Technical.