Second five-eighth Nathan Ramsay had his best game of the season for Taradale with regular busts of the villagers defensive line and some accurate defensive work. Winger Wade Woolly and veteran prop Kelsey Miller deserved their berths on Shoemark's MVP list.
Havelock North were guilty of bombing too many scoring opportunities but can be proud of their defensive work, apart from when they gave Taradale fullback Dan McIntyre too much space on the way to his match-winning try.
Midfield back Kalin Paewai again operated well in the villagers backline. Fullback Ryan Tongia collected what appeared to be a serious knee injury in the 70th minute.
Flanker Jacob Stephenson, prop Paea Taulanga and lock Phil McRoberts all had massive work rates in the host pack.
Tech 55 MAC 5
Hurricanes Development team fullback JJ Taulagi scored 35 points for Altherm Window Systems Napier Technical in this Whitmore Park drubbing.
Two days after playing in the Canes' 36-27 win against Japan A, Taulagi scored five tries and kicked five conversions as the hosts gave lock-loosie Todd Cushing a winning 50th. The Texans produced a classy second half after leading 17-0 at the interval.
Midfield back Ted Walters was another to impress in the winning backline and tighthead prop Perrin Manuel was full of authority in the engine room.
Poor discipline again let MAC down. With experienced utility back Vai Kereti receiving a red card for a dangerous tackle early in the second half and two yellows also issued, MAC played with 14 players for 50 minutes.
"You need 15 players on the field to compete against a team like Tech. We missed a couple of opportunities in the first half and there was quite a bit of frustration. We lacked execution and were poor around the ruck area again," MAC coach Anthony Morley explained.
"We were completely outplayed in every facet of play and Asa Ene [Tech head coach] has done an outstanding job with his team. They've got it all and we couldn't get any rhythm," Morley added.
Hastings 52 Pirate 18
Auto Super Shoppe Hastings Rugby and Sports missed six regular starters but still dominated this Elwood Park quarter-final.
"We made a few unforced errors in the first half and our tackling was too high. Our defence improved in the second half when we played much better. It wasn't perfect but considering who we were missing we were happy," Hastings co-manager James Rosenberg said.
Centre Timo Vaiusu and the halfback-first five-eighth combination of Folau Fakatava and Danny Toala functioned well in the winning backline. Openside flanker Fale Matamata was again a consistent performer in the winning pack.
Tanalised Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports manager Charles Reid said his troops may have the smallest locks in the comp in Ormond Heather and Ryan Gardiner, who are both regular loosies, but this didn't stop the visiting scrum having some memorable patches against the more fancied Hastings pack. Heather, flankers Gerome Naera and Monty Tuala and prop Sean Morrison were all tireless workers in the visiting pack.
Saturday's other matches were defaulted. While Northfuels Central defaulted the playoff for ninth against K9 Petfoods Clive on Friday because of a high injury tally, WIT Napier Old Boys Marist head coach Craig Gowler didn't find out until 10am on Saturday his troops' quarter-final against Jarks Tamatea had been won by default.
"We're gutted we've missed out on a match. It's a pity we only found out this morning. If we had known sooner we could have arranged a game with Clive. Hopefully some of our boys will make the Magpies team to play Tasman on Wednesday otherwise we could be going into the semifinals a little underdone," Gowler said on Saturday.
"Eleven of our regular 22 players are on our injured list. Among those are four of our six adequately trained frontrowers and we don't have a seconds team which we can pick from," Tamatea head coach Matt Marsh explained.
"It's the first time we've defaulted and it wasn't an easy decision. We put an SOS out and got no reply. We're not blessed with 10 frontrowers like our neighbours across the road," Marsh said, referring to Hastings Rugby and Sports, who have regularly played one of their props at No 8 this season.
Marsh isn't sure whether his team will play this weekend as the losing quarter-finalists could negotiate whether they play or not.
"This is a good opportunity for us to refresh, regroup and recommit," he added.
This Saturday's semifinals will see NOBM host Taradale at Park Island and Hastings Rugby and Sports host Napier Technical at Elwood Park.
