Rugby: Tuis will need to sharpen up for TV

Tuis halfback Gemma Woods, who turned 26 on Saturday, didn't receive any gifts from this Waikato defender. PHOTO/DUNCAN BROWN

Sharpen up girls ... a televised match is next up.

This will be the message from Hawke's Bay Tuis women's team player-coach Chanel Huddleston this week after Saturday's 43-3 loss to Waikato in their NPC opener at Napier's Park Island. The match, on Tuis halfback Gemma Woods 26th birthday, was the Bay's first appearance in the competition after a season out.

Photos: Hawke's Bay Tuis vs Waikato

Image 1 of 5: Gemma Woods, Hawke's Bay Tuis, on her birthday - women's rugby vs Waikato at Park Island Napier.

"It wasn't what we really wanted," Huddleston said. "We were hoping to be more competitive. But in saying that Waikato will be the team to beat this year."

More polish will be expected from her side when they take on Counties-Manukau in the televised curtainraiser to the Magpies Ranfurly Shield challenge against the Steelers on Saturday.

Huddleston, who was a second half replacement against Waikato, will start this weekend. "I didn't realise how young our side was," she said. "We lacked experience and the necessary line speed. We get our line speed right and everything else will fall into place."

Former Black Ferns fullback Amy Williams, prop Nina Houston, hooker Jess Carter, Woods and openside flanker Laurae Blake had memorable moments for the Tuis but there will need to be more of these if the team is going to register a win this season.

• The Hawke's Bay Development side, including seven Magpies squad members, were pipped 31-30 by Manawatu in Palmerston North on Saturday. It was a topsy-turvy encounter and Manawatu scored a 76th minute try to take the lead.

First five-eighth Tyrone Elkington-MacDonald, who scored 20 of the Bay's points, lost his footing with a late penalty attempt which was his first miss at goal in two games. Winger Trinity Spooner-Neera and fullback J'ndre Liebenberg were the pick of the Bay backs while substitute openside flanker Joseph Penitito's impact was admirable.

• The Bay under-19s opened their season with a 29-0 loss to Bay of Plenty in Taupo on Saturday. HB coach David Briggs said BOP defended well and while his players had a lot of work to do he was confident they would reach the standards required.

Busy No8 Andrew Ene impressed in Briggs' pack while the Paewai brothers, Kalin and Jesse, operated well in the backline.

Injuries to Dempsey Greening and Slade Laing didn't help the HB cause.

• Hastings Boys' High School lost their Hurricanes Region semifinal 18-14 to Palmerston North Boys' High School in Palmy on Saturday. HBHS co-coach Jack Wiggins said his troops fell off too many tackles during a 10-minute period in the second half, missed too many penalty attempts and were on the wrong end of a 22-5 penalty count.

Halfback Mataeus Marsh and winger Tiki Greening scored Hastings' tries and Greening and utility back Ash Robinson kicked conversions. Captain and hooker Joe Walding-Karaitiana and prop Mason Kean were the best of the Hastings players.