• Trophy glory like a fairytale for Hastings rugby flanker

Trophy glory like a fairytale for Hastings rugby flanker

It's almost a fairytale ... unbelievable."

These were the words of Auto Super Shoppe Hastings Rugby and Sports flanker Fale Matamata after he scored two tries as his team beat Taradale Rugby and Sports 22-16 in Hawke's Bay's Maddison Trophy premier club final at Napier's McLean Park today.

"While it felt good there was a bit of emotion there especially after losing last year's final to Napier Old Boys Marist, At the same time I didn't accept we had won until that fina scrum in the last second" Matamata explained.

"I'm sure we will all be back to try and go back-to-back next year too," he added.

Like Matamata, Hastings co-manager and former Magpies fullback James Rosenberg, pointed out sometimes finals have to be lost before they are won.

"We learnt so much from last year. Our composure was pretty good and the boys kept their heads when Taradale were on top," Rosenberg said.

Rosenberg agreed the depth within his squad was the difference between the two teams. His team lost the services of Hurricanes midfielder Danny Toala with a lower back injury in the 17th minute.

It was the first time Hastings Rugby and Sports had won the trophy since sharing it with Clive Rugby and Sports in 1999. Taradale Rugby and Sports were aiming for their first taste of Maddison Trophy glory since 2009.

Taradale co-coach Tim Combs agreed the winners put too much pressure on his troops at the breakdown.

"We were up by six points with 19 minutes to go. We didn't exit properly and they came back down and applied more pressure on us."

He had every right to pour kudos on his lineout ace, blindside flanker Josh Eden-Whaitiri, and props Jayden Walker and Jacob Walker who were promoted from the club's colts team when injuries hit the squad during the past fortnight. Captain and lock Andrew Gardner again had a massive workrate.

Toala, before he left the field, Matamata and fellow flanker Emil Crichton were the best of the Hastings players. 

Scorers:
Hastings Rugby and Sports 22 (Fale Matamata 2, Jessie Lesa-Sipaia tries; Connor McLeod 2 cons, pen), Taradale Rugby and Sports 16 (Iakopo Mapu try; Caleb Makene 3 pens, con). HT: 10-all.

In the curtainraiser Napier Technical beat Hastings Rugby and Sports 24-18 in the Pat Ryan Memorial Trophy colts final. This win secured the Texans the Black and White Shield for the top club overall in the Bay.

Busy No 8 Rawiri Brider scored two tries for Tech and centre Kenneth Pereka the other. Captain and fullback Leighton Shaw kicked three conversions and a penalty.

For Hastings fullback Alex Philip and winger Samuel Borschmann scored tries and first five-eighth Oscar Sowman kicked two penalties and a conversion.
In the premier reserve grade final Napier Old Boys Marist pipped Maraenui 29-26 at Napier's Park Island.