HB reps rugby
First five-eighth Johnny Lauano received the biggest pat on the back after the Hawke's Bay Samoans rugby team won the Central Region High Commission Cup final in Palmerston North on Saturday.
"The whole team played well but Johnny's directional play in the second half was superb. We went away from our structure a bit in the first half and got sucked into their game but Johnny got us playing our expansive game again," Hawke's Bay coach Tivaini Fomai said after his team's 54-22 win against the Marton-based Whanganui Samoans.
Lauano, his brother and winger Migao Lauano and substitute loosie Joseph Penitito are all Napier Old Boys Marist premier players and finished the season as Nash Cup, Maddison Trophy and High Commission Cup winners.
While Whanganui's physicality levels kept them in the hunt for the first 60 minutes the Hawke's Bay players' superior fitness saw them dominate the final quarter. Coach Fomai impressed with the timing of his substitutions with the likes of Penitito, prop Dennis Tapusoa and centre Neria Fomai all shining with their impact.