In a typically open March weekend of club rugy, every winner scored more than 50 points, but none scored more than the 77 of Havelock North.
With Havelock North coming off a 38-15 loss to Hastings Rugby and Sports, and MAC going down 36-7 to Central the week before, there were seasons to start at Flaxmere Park.
MAC came out strong, winning multiple penalties early and pushing Havelock North back.
That was until Havelock North’s fullback Lawson Gillies started to make cuts into MAC’s line – causing frustration for MAC’s forwards.
After a bit of argy-bargy, Havelock found themselves with the ball and passed it over to right winger Epeli Vuranovo. The rest of the match would follow this theme.
MAC came back from the kickoff with an aggressive defence, but Havelock met them at the line again, remaining calm when making mistakes and holding ball in hand when it mattered most, while MAC managed to collect one red card and one yellow, leaving them with 13 men in the dying minutes of the first half.
MAC got near Havelock’s tryline many times, but could only manage one penalty for their efforts – while Havelock tucked away six tries, leaving the score 34-3 at the halftime whistle.
Havelock North win a lineout against MAC in round two of Hawke's Bay's Nash Cup. Photo / Jack Riddell
Havelock started the second half strongly, dotting down two tries in the first five minutes and eventually winning 77-3, scoring a total of 13 tries to MAC’s one penalty.
MAC’s head coach Viliamu Malaitai was proud of his team’s fight to the end, but said they need to work on their breakdowns.
He was particularly impressed with his No 8 Solomone Kuli Kefu Fono, hooker T.K. Kata, halfback and captain Bronson Hokianga and No 12 Penisini Taufa.
Havelock North head coach Exham Wichman didn’t believe the blowout score reflected the tight passages of the game, but was proud of how his team played after their first-round setback.
“MAC have big boys and how you beat big boys is with brutality, but also to have the finesse on the end – so we’re pretty lucky with that.”
Wichman was stoked with Vuranovo’s four tries, but was also impressed with Marcus Leach coming off the bench at halfback for his first game with the team after playing with the Hurricanes under-20s. He also thought lock Reuben Allen performed very well.
“It’s quite a good confidence-builder for us,” said Wichman.
In other results, Napier Tech kept their momentum going with a 50-5 win over Clive at Fardon Park. So too did Pirate, in Waipukurau, as they scored eight tries to Central’s six in a 55-36 crowd entertainer.
Napier Old Boys Marist ran out comfortable 54-21 winners over Aotea, and Taradale put 59 points on Hastings - who scored 20 of their own -in another open game, as C J Miene ran in five tries for the hosts.
SCORES
Pirate: 55 Tries: Grayson Ewart, Nick Agnew, Eli Rore, Ryota Matsuda, Seeth Lundon, Anaru Paenga-Morgan, Will Bolingford, Jason Wharehinga. Conversions: Andrew Tauatevalu (6) Penalty: Tauatevalu CHB: 36 Tries: Tejay Oliver (2), Zack Simpson, Quaid Paora, Tui Kuru, Dylan Wind. Conversion: Braydon Hardwidge (3)
TRSC: 59 Tries: C J Miene (5), Josh Eden-Whaitiri, Trinity Spooner-Neera, Billy Ropiha, Thomas Eden Conversions: Trinity Spooner-Neera (6), Izaiah Tuliau HRS: 20 Try: Sakopo Aho Ofa, Daniel Toala, Liam Ward. Conversion: Koby Deacon. Penalty: Koby Deacon.
Jack Riddell is a multimedia journalist with Hawke’s Bay Today and spent the last 15 years working in radio and media in Auckland, London, Berlin, and Napier. He reports on all stories relevant to residents of the region.
