• Former NOBM loosie steps up for Tech

Former NOBM loosie steps up for Tech

Napier Technical Old Boys rugby loosie Hannon Brighouse admitted it was an emotional experience taking on his former club in Hawke's Bay's Maddison Trophy premier club competition today.
Despite that emotion and fighting a bout of the flu all week No 8 Brighouse, 22, produced a player-of-the-match performance for Altherm Window Systems Napier Technical in their 17-12 victory over defending champions WIT Trust Napier Old Boys Marist at Whitmore Park.


"I had four seasons with NOBM and there is still a bit of me with them. But I'm enjoying this new environment and this is a good foundation to build off," Brighouse said.
He pointed out the victory was an appropriate way to celebrate first five-eighth Tamati Samuels 50th outing for the Texans who lost the services of former All Black Zac Guildford with a hamstring niggle prior to kickoff.
Substitute lock James Hughes-Lock and openside flanker Slayde Lange were also full of authority in the Tech pack. Winger Martin Watson was the best of the Tech backs.


NOBM coach Craig Gowler agreed his troops blew crucial scoring situations and struggled with the new rules. Loosie Ricky Hayes and prop Lee Moleli had high workrates in the visiting pack and new centre George Stratton and winger Michael Buckley made the m os of their limited opportunities in the Green Machine's backline.


Scorers:
Napier Technical 17 (Hannon Brighouse, Jordan Faia tries; Martin Watson 2 cons, pen), Napier Old Boys Marist 12 (Michael Buckley, Dom Devine tries; Bain Champion con). HT: 7-0.
Central 27 Tamatea 24


Former Hawke's Bay Magpies winger Jason Robinson played alongside two of his sons for Tamatea in this loss at Waipukurau's Central Park. Robinson, 42, played 50 minutes on the right winger, while former Bay of Plenty winger Dennon Robinson played at centre and New Zealand open men's tough rep Ash Robinson played first five-eighth.
Tamatea co-coach Rick Kirikiri was proud of the manner in which his troops fought back to secure a bonus point. He said the conceding of a penalty try in each half didn't help the visitors cause.
"We've got a new-look frontrow but overall the coaching staff is happy with the progress from trainings to the playing field," Kirikiri said.


Centre Robinson and second five-eighth Jordarn Harmer combined well in the midfield.
Busy No 8 Finau Nimatasau produced a player-of-the-match display for Northfuels Central. Fellow loosies Frank Lochore and Jason Cutbush and loosehead prop Wilbur Redward were also influential in the Central pack.
Halfback Tim Sciascia and second five-eighth Zac Simpson were the pick of the Central backs.


Scorers:
Central 27 (Cory Cathro, penalty tries (2); Ruan DeLange 2pens, con), Tamatea 24 (Jordarn Harmer, Dennon Robinson, Tama Hutana tries; Ash Robinson 3 cons, pen). HT: 17-10.
Hastings 29 Clive 22


Interpretations of the new roll away rules were also a hot topic after this Elwood Park encounter.
"We conceded plenty of penalties in the first half and then Clive did in the second half which allowed us to come back and take the win," Auto Super Shoppe Hastings Rugby and Sports manager James Rosenberg explained.

Magpies prop Jason Long, who scored tries, was the hosts player of the match and he was part of a dominant tight five along with hooker Jacob Devery and fellow prop Dennis Tapusua who has returned after a season off.
Former Otago halfback Connor McLeod and first five-eighth Jordan Thompson-Dunn combined well in the winning backline as did the midfield duo of Neria Fomai and Antonio Mikaele-Tu'u. Highlanders and Magpies halfback Folau Fakatava shone as a substitute fullback.

"We did well in the first half but a lack of composure and discipline
in the second half let us down," Andrew Clark Tremains Clive Rugby and Sports coach Vaine Maui lamented.
Openside flanker Liam Udy-Johns was the pick of the Clive players. Captain and No 8 Josh Kaifa and blindside flanker Josh Fuimano also had high workrates. Hurricanes outside back Jonah Lowe provided plenty of enthusiasm at second five-eighth in the visiting backline.


Scorers:
Hastings Rugby and Sports 29 (Jason Long 2, penalty tries (2); Jordan Thompson-Dunn con, pen), Clive Rugby and Sports 22 (Jonah Lowe, Josh Kaifa, Josh Fuimano tries; Tianua Poto 2 cons, pen). HT: Clive 17-7.
Taradale 33 MAC 22


Magpies prop Namatahi Waa and new fullback Cam Robinson were influential figures for Taradale Rugby and Sports in this Flaxmere Park victory.
Waa has a massive workrate while former Napier Boys' High School player Robinson, who played in Taupo during recent seasons, scored two tries and kicked three penalties and two conversions.


Openside flanker Jacob Baker again boxed above his weight for the visitors and Nash Cup holders.
Magpies first five-eighth Lincoln McClutchie was classy for Enviro Clean and Restoration MAC and scored a try and kicked four penalties. MAC manager Anthony Morley said his lads took a while to adjust to the new rules after not having a pre-season match.
Magpies loosie Solomone Funaki and lock-loosie Tiki Greening were prominent in the host pack and halfback Johnny Ika and second five-eighth Paul Bickle were enterprising MAC backs.


Scorers:
Taradale Rugby and Sports 33 (Cam Robinson (2), Liam Rowlands, Josh Eden Whaitiri tries; Robinson 3 pens, 2 cons), MAC 22 (Tiki Greening, Lincoln McClutchie tries; McClutchie 4 pens). HT: 19-11.
Havelock North 66 Pirate 19

The Paewai twins, Jesse and Kalin, scored two tries each for Havelock North in this Tamatea Park victory.
They were prominent in a Progressive Meats Havelock North backline which relished the service provided by a strong and big tight five, something that hasn’t been a feature for the villagers in recent seasons. Former All Black Sevens rep Trinity Spooner-Neera and former Hastings Boys' High School kingpin Latrell Smiler-Ah Kiong also impressed in the villagers backline.
Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports best period was late in the second half when centre Ben Lewis and substitute back Al Moimoisea scored two quick tries. Speedster Lewis had earlier scored the hosts only first half try.


Scorers:
Havelock North 66 (Jesse Paewai 2, Kalin Paewai 2, Joe Walding 2, Trinity Spooner-Neera, Latrell Smiler-Ah Kiong, Trent Hape, Albert Hemopo tries; Spooner-Neera 6, Jacob Stephenson 2 cons), Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports 19 (Ben Lewis 2, Al Moimoisea tries; Zion Clarke 2 cons). HT: 21-7.