Rugby: Poto's boot adds the polish

Hawke's Bay Saracens No8 Kaleb Sweet proves a handful for the Manawatu Development team's defence during Saturday's match in Napier. Photo / Duncan Brown

Regular first five-eighth Tianua Poto displayed his class at fullback for the Hawke's Bay Saracens on Saturday.

The Clive club player was full of authority in general play and succeeded with five of his six attempts at goal, four conversions and a penalty, as the Saracens beat Manawatu Development 36-26 at Napier's Park Island. Poto played at fullback because David Neilson and Magpie Tyrone Elkington-MacDonald had 40 minutes each in the pivot role.

Second five-eighth Cole Eru and winger Ted Walters were others to impress in the winning backline. Lock Everard Reid and substitute No8 Kaleb Sweet were prominent in the Saracens pack.

Sweet took the field in the second minute after Magpie Joseph Penitito vacated with a suspected season-ending ankle injury. Winger Star Timu scored two tries, while Walters, hooker Mikey Sosene-Feagai and Magpies centre Lewis Marshall scored one each for the hosts who led 17-7 at halftime.

Meanwhile, Hawke's Bay Tuis coach Tom Blake said travel fatigue was a major factor in his team's 34-14 loss to the Otago Spirit in Dunedin on Saturday. His team led 14-5 at halftime after tries to hooker Forne Burkin and first five-eighth Amy Williams who converted both.

"I'll accept the fitness levels may not be as good as they should be in some cases but as I watched the wheels fall off in the second half it was easy to see it was more to do with the travel on the day," Blake said.

His players had to get up at 5am to catch their 7am flight from Napier to Christchurch where they had a half-hour wait before their next flight to Dunedin for the noon kick-off.

"Everything was a whole big rush. All the Otago girls and coaches were telling our girls to come and play for Otago as they never have day trips like that," Blake said.

The Tuis scrum struggled for the first 15 minutes before gaining parity. Halfback Gemma Woods seldom had quality ball to distribute.

Burkin and captain and openside flanker Laurae Blake were the best of the Tuis forwards.

Experienced props Natalie Cotton and Sharlena Maui made the most of their game time, while former Black Fern Williams had some classy moments.

For a 15-minute period in the second half the Tuis were down to 13 players when No8 Te Aroha Hunt and winger Kirsty Grace-Thomas were in the sinbin.

Fullback Talon Robinson is likely to be out of action for a fortnight with a shoulder injury.