Rugby: Napier East secure favourite's tag at Wakely Shield tournament

Saracens centre Te Maunutanga Parsons celebrates his try in the 17-12 win against Dannevirke. Photo/Duncan Brown

Napier East secured the favourite's tag at the Wakely Shield rugby tournament in Taradale today.

The Richie Williams-coached team beat defending champions and another of the unbeaten teams at the 15th edition of the annual under-50kg tournament being played at Taradale's Tareha Recreation Reserve, Napier West, 32-22.

Centre Maz Kane produced a player-of-the-match display for NZ Home Loans Napier East. Prop George Hancy and utility Reef Bairstwooten also impressed. Bairstwooten scored two tries and Hancy, winger Preston Watson and second five-eighth Joseph McKenzie one each. Halfback and vice-captain Campbell Rodgers and utility Oliver Beale kicked two conversions each.

Prop Tui Wirihana, centre Ford Watts and flanker Jontay Ferguson scored Solenis NZ Napier West's tries and fullback Jacob Cotter kicked two conversions and a penalty.

Progressive Meats Hastings East maintained their unbeaten run with a 29-5 win against Countdown Hastings West.

"We won ugly. We didn't get the run of the green and tried stuff in the windy conditions we shouldn't have," Hastings East coach Dan Gallagher said.

Captain and halfback Conor Gallagher was outstanding for Hastings East with two tries and two conversions. His sniping runs and control of the match were top shelf.

Lock Jonah Cooper was again impressive and flankers, vice-captain Ezra Morton and Cole van de Spuy had high defensive workrates. Winger Tiongo Itintarawa also scored two tries and van de Spuy the other for Hastings East.

Hastings West coach Craig Wellington said his troops improved on their day one performance when they beat Central but weren't at the same level as Hastings East.
Halfback and vice- captain Charnika Hapi-Tuapawa was the best of the West players and scored their only try.

All of the forwards combined well in patches and captain and openside flanker Carter Jones led his team by example.

Tims Construction Saracens posted their first win of the tournament with a 17-12 victory against Tumu ITM Dannevirke. While Saracens coach Simon Lord praised Dannevirke for their competitive effort he also heaped kudos on his players.

"Our main goal coming into the tournament was to shake off the 50-point losses against the fancied teams Saracens have had in the past. We lost 22-14 to Napier East on Monday and 28-5 to Napier West on Tuesday. Those two Napier teams are the favourites and we backed those games up with today's win."

A late call-up to the team, Fred Laugeson, who had stints at lock and second five-eighth, was full of authority in both positions. Co-captain and flanker Micky Peacock and second five-eighth Te Maunutanga were also prominent for Saracens. Peacock, Parsons and Elliot Morgan scored tries and Alex Duley kicked a conversion.

Dannevirke coach Lincoln Barnes was rapt with the improvement from his side who led 7-5 at halftime.

"After two hidings earlier in the week [71-0 against Napier West and 64-5 against Napier East] we bounced back well. As coaches we couldn't have asked for anything more from the team ... the whole 22 are our players of the match."

Left winger Carson Mason and centre Majah-Rose Peachey scored Dannevirke's tries. Fullback Bealey Schaffer kicked the conversion.