Rugby: Hastings match a fitting anniversary

A waterlogged Elwood Park in Hastings on the day before today's Maddison Trophy game between Hastings play NOBM will test everyone. PHOTO/Warren Buckland

ELWOOD Park on the wet fringes of Hastings will be a window on Hawke's Bay club rugby's past as home side Hastings Rugby and Sports celebrate their 21st wedding anniversary in a key Maddison Trophy competition match today.

The club developed from a merger of Nelson Park Hastings clubs Celtic, Hastings HSOB and Hastings in 1995, and celebrate the day with appropriate opposition in competition leaders and first-round Nash Cup winners Napier Old Boys Marist, a product of the 1990 merger of McLean Park Napier clubs Napier HSOB and Marist BOB, the two most recent winners of the Maddison Trophy.

As such, today's seventh-round 2016 Maddison Trophy match renews three traditional rivalries in Hawke's Bay rugby - that of Catholic clubs Marist and Celtic, that of the two big high school clubs, and the simple sorting-out of one-upmanship in the twin cities of Napier and Hastings.

There's also motivation for Hastings in not wanting a repeat of the 66-28 drubbing they suffered at the hands of OBM in their Nash Cup match at Napier's Park Island in May, and not wanting to be the first Hastings side to lose both matches against OBM in one season since 2013.

But with more than 40mm of rain in Napier yesterday, the weather is expected to be the great leveller, in contrast to the brilliantly fine day of the sides' previous meeting this season.

Second unbeaten side Taradale have home advantage in a local derby against Napier Pirate, who won last year's semifinal between the two clubs before going on to win the final.

A Taradale win will put Pirate at risk of missing out on this year's top four.

Havelock North also have home advantage against Tamatea, who reckon they always go well against the villagers but will need to go even better if they are to stop their Premier-grade losing streak hitting 60 matches, while, like Havelock North, Clive need a win over Tech at Clive to keep their slim playoff hopes alive.

Havelock North will be hoping for a winning effort to celebrate wing Shannan Chase's 50th Premier match for the club, having possibly just one more before Magpies Mitre 10 Cup squad members are siphoned out of club rugby from the following weekend.

In the remaining match in Flaxmere, MAC and Central will looking for the points to avoid the threat of relegation, unlikely as it is with no one having been relegated in more than 10 years.

The Division 2 competition, from which the winner may challenge for promotion to Premier, has its last round before its semifinals.

Otane, already guaranteed No1 seeding and a home semi-final as they contemplate a possible return Premier rugby - where their last tilt was in the Nash Cup in 2006 - have a bye.

Defending Division 2 champs Aotea, who beat Otane 31-0 a fortnight ago, hope to also bag a home semi when they play fifth-placed Porangahau in Dannevirke.