East Coast nearly pull off upset

Hawkes Bay stretched their winning sequence to 34 games, but they had to overcome a 24-6 deficit early in the second half to beat East Coast 30-24 at Ruatoria.

Down by 18 points, they hit back with three converted tries in a 13-minute spell to go ahead 27-24.

Hawkes Bay may have taken the championship points, but East Coast took the glory with a magnificent game of attacking and defensive rugby in front of their Whakarua Park fans.

Inspired by skipper and No 8 Wirihana Raihania and backed by a strong wind, the home side ripped into their highly fancied opponents from the kick-off.

They deservedly led 14-3 at halftime through tries by winger Jonathan Manu and first-five Roger Chappell, who converted both.

Hawkes Bay's only reply was a penalty by Eddie Hekenui.

Hekenui closed the gap to eight with his second penalty two minutes into the second half, but East Coast replied immediately with their third try, to fullback Doone Harrison, and the crowd erupted at the prospect of a major upset.

Chappell added the conversion and then extended the lead to 24-6 with a penalty.

"The game was there to be won at that point," said a bitterly disappointed Coast coach Eli Manuel.

"We just needed to keep it tight, nothing silly.

"But we lost a bit of concentration and paid the price."

Raihania, openside flanker Paul Symes and lock Jason Bellamy were outstanding for East Coast.

Former Poverty Bay captain and New Zealand Maori Mutu Ngarimu was the pick of the Hawkes Bay side.

North Otago blitz Manawatu An eight-try scoring spree set up North Otago's 58-14 hiding of Manawatu in Oamaru.

Fourth-placed North Otago were desperate for a win after two consecutive losses.

The home side started well when winger Scott Mayhew dotted down from the opening kick-off.

Manawatu played the next 10 minutes inside North Otago's half, but solid defence kept Manawatu out.

Two Pila Fifita tries helped North Otago to a 24-0 lead at halftime.

They continued where they left off in the second half, with flanker Ray Ofisa making a break from inside his own half to score in the left-hand corner.

Manawatu eventually crossed early in the second half for their first try courtesy of lock Hayden Triggs, who ran 70 metres to dot down.

But North Otago continued to pile on the points, with four more tries, to give them the win and get their campaign back on track.

Nelson Bays repel challenge Nelson Bays beat Marlborough 37-19 to secure maximum points and retain the Seddon Shield on a wet and breezy Trafalgar Park.

Marlborough led 13-10 at halftime after first use of a stiff breeze, with Marlborough centre Aaron Bancroft and Nelson Bays No 8 Kahu Marfell trading first half tries.

And although Nelson Bays eventually went ahead 20-13 just seven minutes after the restart following an Aaron Kimura penalty and try to left winger Ali Durrant, it wasn't until the last six minutes that Nelson Bays were finally able to shake Marlborough's challenge.

The Marlborough forwards were superbly led by their captain and No 8, Laurie McGlone, who was well supported by flankers George and Ross Love and hooker Mark Stewart.

Marfell, lock Brian Dineen, prop Gavin Briggs and hooker Dillin Clark were the outstanding contributors in Nelson Bays' forward effort.

- NZPA


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