Rugby: Room to improve in lower grades

Penikolo Latu

It was a try-less start to the season for three of Hawke's Bay's lower grade rep rugby teams on Saturday.

The HB Saracens lost 15-6 to Wanganui at Cooks Gardens. First five-eighth Tyrone Elkington-MacDonald kicked two penalties for the visitors.

"Our performance was a little bit disjointed because we were rotating players so all 24 in our squad could get plenty of game time," Saracens manager Mike Smith said.

Winger Penikolo Latu was full of endeavour for the Saracens. Lock Everard Reid was dominant in lineouts and blindside flanker Andrew Gardner provided quality impact off the pine.

Former Magpies fullback Trinity Spooner-Neera scored Wanganui's first try.

The HB Tuis lost 27-0 to Manawatu in their NPC dress rehearsal at Park Island, Napier, on Saturday after trailing 5-0 at halftime.

Tuis coach Tom Blake said a lack of combinationsin their defensive systems was exposed in the second half but he was confident of strengthening these during the season.

"It was our first hit-out and Manawatu had beaten Bay of Plenty by 50 the previous week," Blake said.

His loose forward trio of No8 Te Aroha Hunt and flankers Naomi Hunt and Laurae Blake functioned well while props Janey Sene and Sharlena Maui, and hooker Forne Burkin were dominant in patches.

Lock Dyvine Ioane, who will be out of action for four weeks with a knee issue, was Blake's only injury concern.

The HB Under-19s lost 27-6 to Bay of Plenty in their first outing of the season at Taupo on Saturday.

Hawke's Bay were 19-3 down at halftime.

"There was a bit of unfamiliarity but we improved in the second half with some good phases and I was pleased with the effort," co-coach Stu Drew said.

First five-eighth Reece Calkin, who kicked two penalties, and Jack Wakeling, who had stints at centre and pivot, were the best of Drew's backs.

Openside flanker Kaleb Whakataka was a tireless forager.