Rugby: Loss flat farewell for Tuis stalwart

Amy Williams

Hawke's Bay Tuis fullback Amy Williams deserved a better farewell performance than was delivered during Saturday's 58-5 loss to Canterbury at Napier's Park Island.

It was former Black Ferns utility back Williams' 50th first class match for the Tuis and final outing before leaving the Bay yesterday to start a 10-month stint with Italian Series A club Bologna. It was also the Tuis fifth loss from as many NPC games this season.

"It was an off-day at the office. The girls didn't stick to the systems and Amy didn't get a lot of opportunities," Tuis assistant manager Blair Heasley said.

Tuis captain and openside flanker Laurae Blake was her team's player-of-the-match. Promising hooker Forne Burkin and blindside flanker Hope Hakopa were others to impress in the Tuis pack.

Experienced halfback Gemma Woods, who also had a stint at No8, was again gritty.

The Hawke's Bay Saracens kept their hopes of winning the Hurricanes Development competition alive with a 44-7 walloping of the Wellington Samoans in Saturday's curtain-raiser at Napier's McLean Park. If the Saracens beat Wellington Development in Porirua on Saturday with a favourable points differential they will win the comp.

Co-captains, blindside flanker Andrew Gardner and lock Everard Reid were inspirational in the Saracens pack. Winger Mikey Vuicakau and fullback Star Timu were classy in the winning backline.

The Hawke's Bay under-19s beat the Hurricanes Barbarians 39-3 at Park Island on Saturday in their final rehearsal for next week's national tournament in Taupo. Magpies centre Jonah Lowe scored two tries for the Bay and Magpies winger Mason Emerson, playing at fullback, scored one.

First five-eighth Jack Wakeling, who scored a try and kicked three conversions and a penalty, joined the Magpies pair as the best of the Bay backs. Prop Sean Morrison and openside flanker George Macpherson had high work rates.