Rugby: Girls help West secure win

Wairoa's Rakai McCafferty busts through the tackle of Dannevirke's Shea Hewitt during her team's 48-0 win yesterday. Photo / Duncan Brown

One half of the first set of unisex twins to play in the Ross Shield rugby tournament, Deijah Tuliau, scored two tries on Day 1 in Hastings yesterday.

The Hastings West second five-eighth is one of two girls in her team, Harmony Kautai is the other, and both were among the tryscorers in their team's 48-5 win against Central Hawke's Bay at Lindisfarne College. Tuliau combined well with fellow midfielder Eldius Alainuuese (Oli). Fullback Elijah Mataira, who also scored two tries, was another to shine in the winning backline.

Blindside flanker Jarvyais Mangu and lock Kaleb Pirie provided quality grunt in the engine room. West co-coach Haisley Robson said his troops will have to be more aggressive at the breakdown if they are going to be competitive with the fancied sides later in the week.

Central manager John Kilmister said his forwards were competitive but their defence was leaky out wide. Captain and openside flanker Callum Shanks and vice-captain and No8 Harry Stephenson made some powerful carries and prop Jock Kilmister scrummaged well.

Talented blindside flanker Kere Penitito, a younger brother of Magpies loosie Joseph Penitito, scored two tries as Napier beat defending champions Hastings East 19-5. Fellow loosie Jamie Ross and centre Jayden Stok also impressed for Napier.

While several coaches labelled Napier as the team to beat at the 114th edition of the Hawke's Bay Primary Schools event which caters for players under 56kg, Napier co-coach Paul Teddy refused to accept the favourite's tag.

"Any team can beat another in week-long events like this one," Teddy said.

East manager Ian Horsefield said nerves got the better of his troops in the first half when they leaked 19 points but he was impressed with the second-half effort. Fullback Wesley Akeripa and hooker A-One Lolofie were East's best.

Co-captain and openside flanker Kaihau Pasikala was inspirational in his Wairoa team's 48-0 win against Dannevirke. Like lock Hugh Taylor, second-year Ross Shield player Pasikala scored two tries and was devastating on defence. Prop Tylah Taumata was also prominent.

"It was a bit of a wake-up call for us," Dannevirke co-coach Karl Withey said afterwards.