League: Newcomer Fale Matamata grabs hat-trick as Tamatea book grand final berth

Tamatea centre Fale Matamata runs in his third try against Dannevirke Tigers on Saturday. Photo / Duncan Brown

Hawke's Bay Saracens and Hawke's Bay Samoans rugby representative Fale Matamata is relishing his first season of premier club rugby league.

Matamata, 21, grabbed a hat-trick for Tamatea during their 36-24 win against Dannevirke Tigers in their semifinal at the Hawke's Bay Regional Sports Park in Hastings.

A loosie for Hastings Rugby and Sports in union, Matamata, is playing centre in the 13-man code.

"That's my first hat-trick in either union or league this season. That was only my third game of league and I'm enjoying the physical nature of the game," Matamata said.

He helped the Hawke's Bay Samoans retain their title in the lower North Island High Commission Cup competition last month and is confident Tamatea can win the league comp when they take on Bridge Pa in this weekend's grand final.

"I missed out on the Maddison Trophy with Hastings Rugby and Sports when we were pipped in the semifinals but we've got a good chance with this Tamatea team," he added.

Former Magpies rugby prop Mason Kean was inspirational on the carry and with his defensive workrate for Tamatea.

Secondrower Joe Taafi again impressed for the winners.

Captain and standoff Haisley Robson and fullback Ioane Ioane joined Matamata as the best of the Tamatea backs.

Fullback Waka Petera and standoff Tama Petera were elusive attackers for Dannevirke.

Second rowers Jesse King and Jacob Stephenson were industrious forwards for the Tigers.

Winger Jarome Mareikura also grabbed a hat-trick as Bridge Pa walloped a below-strength and youthful Maraenui side 72-0 in the other premier semifinal.

Second rower Willie Schuster and centre Jackson Waerea were among several Bridge Pa players to score two tries each.

"When you get one-sided games like this a week out from a final you need to focus on defence. We did well to keep Maraenui to zero and after a rusty start we played well," Bridge Pa coach Ihaka Waerea said.

"Obviously, after finishing second to Kahuranaki last year, we want to go one step better this year," he added.

Former Hastings Boys' High School first XV rugby player Shamara Brooks produced a player-of-the-match display for Bridge Pa at standoff.

Fullback Lewis Marshall, the former Magpies and Manawatu Turbos Mitre 10 Cup rugby utility back, was also prominent in the winning backline.

Schuster and back rower Ivan Bellamy were the pick of the of the Bridge Pa forwards.

If Hawke's Bay's most successful premier club rugby league coach Waka Leonard can keep the Maraenui squad together and get them to commit to his training schedules they should be competitive at this level within three seasons.

Bay Bulldogs will take the favourite's tag into Saturday's reserve grade grand final against Bridge Pa after thrashing Flaxmere 72-14 in their semifinal.

Bridge Pa pipped Omahu Huia 30-24 in their semifinal.

Defending women's champions Bridge Pa will again take on Tamatea in the grand final.

In their respective semifinals Bridge Pa beat YMP by default and Tamatea beat Hastings Rugby and Sports 48-8.