Rugby: Hastings East coach seeks improvement

Hastings East halfback Conor Gallagher bursts through the Central defence during his team's 57-0 win yesterday. Photo/Warren Buckland

Hastings East opened their Wakely Shield rugby campaign in emphatic fashion yesterday.

The Dan Gallagher-coached side which had the bye during Monday's first day of play at the 15th edition of the annual under-50kg event at Taradale's Tareha Recreation Reserve beat Central 57-0. However Gallagher was quick to point out his troops still had plenty to work on.

"We got a bit messy in the second half when we fell off our structures. We were guilty of taking a few wrong options too."

A second-year coach at the tournament, Gallagher said while there are only a couple of players who have returned from last year's team, the troops are eager to improve on last year's second placing.

Lock Jonah Cooper and No 8 Divaan Singh were outstanding in the Progressive Meats East engine room and set the platform for the victory particularly during the first half when East established a 32-0 lead. Halfback Connor Gallagher was busy and scored two tries and kicked six conversions.

Centralines Central coach Justin Ward said his troops surprised spectators when they boxed above their weight in a 31-12 loss to Countdown Hastings West on Monday. But they found Hastings East "too big and too strong".

"They've got a lot more depth to choose from. They had 70 players to pick from and we had 19 ... and we had to bring 20 players to tournament. Waipukurau needs a KFC and a McDonald's like the big cities have," Ward said.

"We've got a couple of nine-year-olds who we are building for next year's Wakely Shield tournament and then the Ross Shield after that."

Powerful No 8 Jake Schaw impressed with his runs against Hastings West. Winger George Peacock displayed plenty of heart in this encounter and second five-eighth Lucas Ward also impressed in the Central backline.

Schaw again shone against Hastings East. Regular loosie Jonno Clarke functioned well as a prop against East.

Coach Ward was happy to report one of his players, winger Wills Baines, was among the leading chess players at the tournament. Chess games are held daily during the five-day tournament which ends on Friday.

In addition the top sprinter, top kicker and top management kicker award winners will be decided today.

"That's the beauty of this tournament ... it's not just about the rugby," coach Ward said.

One of yesterday's other games saw New Zealand Home Loans Napier East beat Tumu ITM Dannevirke 64-5.

On Monday blindside flanker Jessie Beals and openside flanker Jontay Ferguson both scored hattricks for defending champions Solenis NZ. Napier West in a 71-0 win against Dannevirke. Napier West prop Carter Frame-Tavita was the player-of-the-match.

Tournament organiser Baz Wakely praised the competitiveness of the Tims Construction Saracens side during their 22-14 loss to Napier East on Monday. Napier East No 8 Charlie Nash was the player-of-the-match in this encounter.

Hastings West second five-eighth Hunter Andrew was the player-of-the-match in their win against Central on Monday.

Today's games will see unbeaten Hastings East and Hastings West battle from noon, Dannevirke and Saracens clash from 1.15pm and Napier East and Napier West clash from 2.30pm.

At Friday's prizegiving the player of the tournament will receive the Josh Kronfeld Medal.