Rugby: Marist back savours title

Player-of-the-match Sam Giddens pops the champagne as Napier Old Boys Marist switch into celebration mode on Saturday. Photo / Paul Taylor

Play it again Sam Giddens ... that's the 2016 version of Hawke's Bay's Maddison Trophy rugby final not the 2013 one.

"That's my first Maddison Trophy win and it certainly helps to erase those memories of 2013," HBI Insurances Napier Old Boys Marist second five-eighth Giddens said after his team thrashed Carters Frame and Truss Taradale 41-8 in Saturday's final played in atrocious weather at McLean Park in Napier.

The former Magpie was a member of the 2013 NOBM side which was upset 17-8 by Napier Technical in the final.

With Giddens producing a player-of-the-match performance and his team, which had earlier in the season won the Nash Cup and Hawke's Bay Challenge Shield and also played a prominent role in NOBM winning the Black and White Shield for the Bay's top club, playing an open and entertaining style of rugby which belied the conditions, they were never going to be upset.

"That's how we've played all season. We weren't going to change it for the final regardless of the conditions," Giddens, 31, said, almost losing a battle to hypothermia.

He promised all of the NOBM players will be back next year to attempt a repeat. Giddens only needs three more games for the team to bring up his century.

He scored a 33rd minute try after winning the chase to a kick ahead to give his team an 11-3 lead when playing into the wind. He had earlier kicked two penalties and in the 43rd minute he kicked a 40m dropped goal.

Giddens try was one of two NOBM scored while Taradale lock Reon Watts was in the sinbin during the final 10 minutes of the first half. As has been the case all season, NOBM coach head coach Craig Gowler was spot on with his substitutions. Experienced prop Eugene Gerrard scored two tries off the pine. Veteran centre Migao Lauano also scored two tries.

"That was our best performance of the season and at the right time," Gowler said.

"It was all about being smart and being patient. We applied a lot of pressure for most of the game. At halftime, I didn't have to talk much as I could see the emotion in the players eyes.

"Everyone will be back next year and I'll definitely be back ... there's no way I'm going to walk away from this bunch of blokes."

Taradale only displayed glimpses of the form produced in the previous week's 25-22 upset win against defending champions Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports.

Prop Joe Simeon made some memorable carries but there weren't enough of these. Former Magpies loosie Kaleb Sweet was powerful off the subs bench.

Taradale head coach Jason Shoemark might have achieved more if he had started Sweet but it would not have changed the result.

It was always going to be the Green Machine's day. It was the Green Machine's season.

Taradale captain and flanker Andrew Gardner told the crowd NOBM, who had only recorded one loss in 20 games this season, had proved all season they were the team to beat and they thoroughly deserved the trophy.

He also had every right to point out it was a commendable effort from his team to reach the final after finishing seventh in the Nash Cup round.