"It was a pretty unusual game. We made a few changes to give some of our young boys a run but we should not have let Central dominate the second spell with some wonderful tries. While I can't put a finger on why we did that the Central supporters aren't complaining," NOBM head coach Craig Gowler said.
Loose forwards Hannon Brighouse and Chris Johnston celebrated their return from injury spells with inspirational performances for the hosts. Winger Michael Buckley scored four tries to maintain his lead in the Big Barrel top tryscorer comp.
Clive 24 Havelock North 11
K9 Petfoods Clive replaced Progressive Meats Havelock North in the top four with this Anderson Park victory.
Two unsung heroes, locks Rocky Pohatu and Rana Huata, were workaholics in the visiting pack. Pohatu is more familiar with a loose-forward role but because of the number of talented loosies ranked ahead of him is happy to do his bit for the side as a secondrower.
Hurricanes squad member Jonah Lowe was again classy at centre for the riversiders. Villagers manager Gary Revell said Clive deserved their win.
"We've got Taradale and Central to play so it's not going to be easy for us to return to the top four," he added.
Busy No 8 Phil McRoberts led the host pack by example. Lock Brent Bakkerus, who was promoted from the club's seconds, relished the step up. First five-eighth J'andre Liebenberg was the pick of the Havelock North backs.
Pirate 37 Tech 30
Tanalised Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports denied the Altherm Window Systems Napier Technical pair of winger Misi Lealaisalona and centre Tane McGuire winning 100ths with this Whitmore Park win.
Tech, the beaten finalists in the Nash Cup, remain winless and this was the Pirate team's second victory in the Maddison Trophy comp. Tech led 30-25 with 20 minutes remaining.
"We led 20-12 at halftime and then dropped away. We scrambled the win and were relieved," Pirate manager Charles Reid said.
Locks Ormond Heather and Mike Albert provided plenty of grunt to the Pirate engine room. Hooker Nick Agnew deserved his two tries.
Lealaisalona celebrated his milestone with two tries and was the Texans' best player. Openside flanker Elijah Martin and prop Mark Braidwood were again gutsy in the Tech pack.
Hastings 64 Tamatea 24
After missing the previous week's game with an ankle injury, Auto Super Shoppe Hastings Rugby and Sports hooker Jacob Devery produced a player-of-the-match display in this victory at the Hawke's Bay Regional Sports Park.
His unbeaten competition leaders impressed with their offloads and long-range tries. Second five-eighth Ausage Fomai scored two tries for the second consecutive week and prop Aleki Vuki had a huge workrate.
Jarks Tamatea were missing several key players including former All Black hooker Hika Elliot, who will be eligible to play this week. Poor defensive work let the hosts down.
Hooker Te Maangi Hamlin and lock Witere Kupa shone with their never-say-die approach in the Tamatea pack and halfback Mataeus Marsh was the best of the hosts' backs.
Taradale 69 MAC 8
Taradale Rugby and Sports winger Wade Woolly scored four tries in this Flaxmere Park romp.
Lock-flanker Angelo Mufana prop Joe Apikotoa, lock Jordan Kupa and inside back Nathan Ramsay were others to shine for the visitors, who continue to peak as the business end of the season approaches. MAC were missing several players who were attending halfback Brigham Morley's wedding.
"There were some great individual efforts from our boys but it wasn't a great team effort," MAC coach Len Huia said.
Powerful No 8 Solomone Funaki was often a lone ranger. Prop Amiga Mikaele had some memorable moments and Johnny Ika had some classy patches in the halfback and fullback positions.
