Rugby: Kaka back from injury but Napier holds reins

NOBM centre Chris Johnston tackles Havelock North fullback Gillies Kaka on Saturday.

All Black sevens star Gillies Kaka made his long-awaited return from injury but it wasn't enough to give Havelock North a win in Hawke's Bay's premier club rugby competition on Saturday.

"I'm happy with how the arm and the rest of the body came through but it was a bad result," Kaka said after Progressive Meats Havelock North's 22-11 fourth round Tui Nash Cup loss to Napier Old Boys Marist in the feature game of the villagers club day at Anderson Park.

It was Kaka's first match since breaking an arm at the Las Vegas Sevens in February and he said if he gets the thumbs up after "a couple of thrashings" from Sir Gordon Tietjens during the next fortnight he will return to the World Sevens Circuit in Scotland next month.

"The All Black Sevens are only a heart beat off the mark where we should be and it's a bit like Havelock. We made a few mistakes today but once we fix those we'll click," Kaka said.

This was Hawke's Bay Insurances Limited Napier Old Boys Marist's third consecutive win at a venue which was previously a graveyard for them. NOBM's midfield back Sam Giddens and Chris Johnston did an admirable job in restricting the freedom of the villagers backs. Promising flanker Kaleb Whakataka was the pick of the visiting forwards. Fourth string halfback Johnny Bristol and first five-eighth Ethan Bradey operated well in the host backline while Havelock flanker Tony Lamborn was a menace around the breakdown.

-Taradale 114 Tamatea 0

Carters Frame and Truss Taradale midfield back Billy Ropiha scored 39 points as his team retained the Challenge Shield with this walloping on home turf against their injury-ridden visitors.

Ropiha scored three of the unbeaten competition leaders and defending champions' 18 tries and converted 12. Prop Ezra Amituanai and Magpies halfback Chris Eaton also grabbed hattricks.

Eaton, winger Zane Hohepa and lock Angelo Mufana all made Taradale manager Paul Atkins MVP list. Tamatea coach Tane Cooper has a lengthy injury list particularly among the backs and until this shrinks his troops will struggle.

-Pirate 22 Tech 10

Former Magpies prop Tom Symes played his 100th game for Tanalised Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports as they maintained their unbeaten run with this Tamatea Park victory.

Symes, who last played for the team three seasons ago, had 10 minutes off the bench after receiving an SOS call from head coach Andy Lord. Pirate's other props in action were the father-and-son pair of Johnny and Stephen Morrison.

First five-eighth David Neilson was the player-of-the-match. In addition to his control of the game which had spectators comparing him with former Pirate captain and Magpies pivot Aayden Clarke he succeeded with all six of his attempts at goal.

"Pirates beat us with a basic game. Yes, that Neilson is a copy cat of Clarke," Tech Group of Companies Napier Technical head coach Steve Woods said.

His best were No 8 Levi Guildford, openside flanker Todd Cushing and prop Nathan Pulega in the pack and first five-eighth Braxton Robinson and winger Nathan Ramsay.

-Central 47 Clive 16

Northfuels Central produced a memorable 50th outing for loosehead prop Liam O'Dowd with this emphatic victory at home.

It was Central's first win of the season and O'Dowd was joined on head coach Exham Wichman's MVP list by busy No 8 Tom Fogarty and second five-eighth Kody Lancaster who both scored two tries.

"It was very disappointing. This is a ridiculous result for us," K9 Petfoods Clive manager Andy Northe said.

Openside flanker James Tango, captain and prop Jorian Tangaere and blindside flanker Jesse Tuhua were all prominent for Clive but far too often lacked the necessary cohesive support.

-Hastings 25 MAC 11

Improved defence and set piece play saw Ansin & Monteith Hastings Rugby and Sports register their second win of the season.

Playing against several of his relations, No 8 Mark Ioane, again shone for Hastings. Others to impress were blindside flanker George Crichton and locks Geoff Cridge and Sanaila Waqa.

Speedster Mason Emerson, who had stints at fullback and winger and made a spectacular try-saving tackle on Tom Iosefo, joined first five-eighth Ioane Ioane as the pick of the visiting backs. While MAC only conceded six penalties, eight less than Hastings, five of them were turned into three points by Ioane Ioane.

In his first outing of the season second five-eighth Ihaka Waerea was constructive in the MAC backline. Hooker Teremoana Joel, prop Mason Kean and blindside flanker Paula Latu all had high workrates in the host pack.