Rugby: Napier aim to take title in style

ELUSIVE: Eli Rore (Napier) eludes Pryce Chamberlain (Central) for one of his three tries yesterday. PHOTO/Paul Taylor

Napier can afford to draw their final game at the Ross Shield rugby tournament in Hastings today and still collect the trophy.

But don't mention the draw word to co-coach Paul Teddy.

"We want to take the title outright," Teddy said after Napier's 80-0 drubbing of Central at Lindisfarne College yesterday.

Head coach Clint Chamberlain named winger Dante Kururangi as his player of the day. Others to feature on his MVP list were openside flanker John Teddy and blindside flanker Eli Rore who, like centre Jayden Stok, grabbed a hattrick.

The Central team's never-say-die approach was commendable. Napier will meet Hastings West in their final game today at the Heinz-Wattie's-Hastings Pak 'N Save-sponsored event and it will be a surprise if they don't win by 15 points at least. Napier have scored 241 points while conceding 15 in four games while West have scored 133 while conceding 34.

Hastings West second five-eighth Deijah Tuliau took her try tally for the week to six with one in her team's 10-3 win against Wairoa.

She is one half of the first set of unisex twins to play in the 114-year-old tournament.

Her brother T-Vahny is one of the flankers in the West side. Fellow midfielder Eldius Alainuuese (Oli) was also a key architect in the West victory.

Lock Hugh Taylor was powerful on the carry for Wairoa.

Flanker Kaihau Pasikala again had a massive workrate, hooker Amber-JameMcKenzie was tireless and centre Hani CeJay Waiwai was the best of the backs.

Hastings East No8 Wesley Akeripa also grabbed a hat-trick in a player-of-the-match display as his team walloped Dannevirke 57-0. Fullback Art Thompson, flanker Crighton Murphy and locks Jack Hutton and Daniel Minogue were also prominent.

Dannevirke produced their best display of the week to date with first five-eighth Hoera Stephenson inspirational.

Other games today will see Hastings East take on Wairoa and Central play Dannevirke.

-Hastings West 10 (Deijah Tuliau, Eldius Alainuuese (Oli) tries) Wairoa 3 (Hani CeJay Waiwai pen). HT: Wairoa 3-0.

-Napier 80 (Jayden Stok 3, Eli Rore 3, Dante Kururangi 2, Tipene Maxwell, Jamie Ross, Chaz Heke, Treyah Kingi-Taukamo tries; Carlos Kemp 10 cons) Central 0. HT: 61-0.

-Hastings East 57 (Wesley Akeripa 3, Mefi Tupou 2, Crighton Murphy 2, Adam Bibby, Daniel Minogue tries; Art Thompson 4, Daemon Brough 2 cons) Dannevirke 0. HT: 24-0.