Centre Shannan Chase and winger Mikey Vuicakau were slippery customers for the Hastings defence. While Hastings competed well they paid the price for a high error count in their danger zone.
Captain and openside flanker Ben Hamelink and No8 Mark Ioane were busy loosies for the hosts while prop Jason Long shone with his mobility and physicality. Second five-eighth Star Timu was the best of the Hastings backs.
-Taradale 29 Central 10
The Mighty Maroons were in celebration mode after this victory at home.
Carters Frame and Truss Taradale won the Nash Cup with an unbeaten run for the second consecutive season and as they left the field they heard their reserve grade side had won the Town-Country Pratt Trophy with a 24-15 win against Aotea in Dannevirke. Flankers Tom Stanley and Jaaron Fritz were both prominent in the premier side's pack and first five-eighth Manihera Eden again directed his backline well.
"We were thrilled to score five tries in these conditions. We didn't bring several of our top players on until the final quarter so the depth within the squad is pretty good as our attention turns to the Maddison comp," Taradale manager Paul Atkins said.
Northfuels Central coach Exham Wichman was proud of his troops effort. They defended well for long periods in the second half.
Experienced No8 Warwick Slingsby led the visiting pack by example. Winger Karawana Russell, fullback Sam Miratana and halfback Daniel Hardwidge all had memorable moments in the Central backline.
-MAC 26 Tech 20
MAC captain and No8 Everard Reid got an ideal 31st birthday present with this Whitmore Park win.
The former East Coast rep was inspirational in a forward pack which redeemed itself for a passive performance the previous week. Loosehead prop Mason Kean and flanker Malele Fa'aopopo and winger Nawa Uaisele also made head coach Anthony Morley's MVP list.
Tech Group of Companies Napier Technical manager Cyril Whitburn said soft turnovers let the hosts down. He was impressed with the goalkicking of his first five-eighth Dylan Ramsay and the effort put in by No8 Trent Boswell-Wakefield and prop Mark Braidwood.
Work commitments meant key back Trinity Spooner-Neera couldn't take the field until the second half.
-Pirate 26 Clive 20
Tanalised Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports first five-eighth Jackson Neilson was the toast of his team after this victory.
With his brother and regular pivot David Neilson unavailable with an injury, Neilson, handled his positional switch with aplomb at Farndon Park. He succeeded with all six of his attempts at goal and also scored a try as the visitors recovered from a 10-3 halftime deficit.
Second five-eighth Hayden Hann and prop Sean Morrison were other key architects in the win. Clive coach Andy Green agreed Neilson was the difference.
Green was thrilled with how regular 85kg loosie James Tango functioned at lock. Captain and hooker Jorian Tangaere and blindside flanker Jesse Tuhua also battled effectively in the host pack while centre Jonah Lowe made the most of his limited opportunities.
-NOBM 50 Tamatea 0
Hawke's Bay Insurances Limited Napier Old Boys Marist ran in eight tries despite missing the services of 13 regular starters for this Park Island encounter. Centre Mark Collier again shone in his second outing of the season for the hosts. Named initially as a sub, fullback Liam Edwards was thirsty for work when told he was starting. Openside flanker Kaleb Whakataka was a tireless worker in the host pack. Tamatea did well to trail 19-0 at halftime but leaked too many soft tries in the second spell. Their best were flankers Buffy Wainohu and Tiwai Tomoana and second five-eighth Henare Harris.
