Rugby: Tangaere tries help Saracens to victory

Magpies hooker Jorian Tangaere scored two tries as the Hawke's Bay Saracens rugby team opened the Hurricanes Development campaign with a 38-21 win against the Wellington Samoans in Petone on Saturday.

Tangaere was a second half substitute in a pack in which locks Ben Parsons and Josh Eden-Whaitiri and the loose forward trio of captain Sean Skeet, fellow flanker George McPherson and No 8 Joseph Penitito were also impressive. Penitito's powerful carries were a feature of the game.

Halfback Karl Hewitt again shone with his distribution while the midfield combination of second-five Cole Eru and centre Neria Fomai provided plenty of thrust.

Although the Bay was guilty of going off the boil in the third quarter, it was a good team effort and the ideal time to record a first win of the season.

The Hawke's Bay under-19s produced a polished rehearsal for next week's national tournament in Taupo with a 72-0 thrashing of the Hurricanes Barbarians under-19s in Palmerston North on Saturday.

Three members of Napier Old Boys' Marist's Maddison Trophy-winning premier team, hooker Logan Ede, loosie Hannon Brighouse and second five-eighth Ricky Hayes were all prominent for the Bay.

The Hawke's Bay under-16s opened their season with a 32-22 win against Wellington in Palmerston North on Saturday. Prop Matt Wilson and lock Josh Gimblett were inspirational.

Three subs, first-five Zarn Sullivan, second-five Liam Udy-Johns and centre Nathan Giles, provided quality impact in the Bay backline. The Hawke's Bay under-16 development team lost 32-7 to Wellington in Palmerston North.

Co-captains, No 8 Matene Munday and centre Angus Campbell, joined openside flanker Luke Russell as the best of the Bay players.

Captain Andrew Hayward, Art Thompson and Hoera Stephenson were key architects as the Hawke's Bay under-14s maintained their unbeaten run for the season with a 29-14 win against Manawatu in Palmerston North on Saturday.