Defending champions Tamatea sealed the Hawke's Bay rugby league minor premiership with a week to spare when they beat last year's beaten finalists Outkast Sports 26-20 on Saturday.
Playing at Kirkpatrick Park, Hastings, it was Tamatea's 15th win in a row since losing a semifinal in 2010. In a rematch of last year's finalists, the victory gave them a four-point buffer over Outkast and in-and-out Napier side Maraenui Phoenix as the sides prepare for this year's semifinals on October 6.
On their home ground in Napier, Maraenui bounced back from a pitiful default the previous week with a 63-20 win which all-but ended the playoff hopes of Flaxmere Falcons, while leading fourth-berth contenders Tech Seals hammered Omahu Huia 62-22, at Whitmore Park, Napier.
In the other match, in Hastings, Bridge Pa kept their name in the frame with a third win in a row, beating fellow first-time Premier-graders Napier Pirate Panthers 36-30.
Tamatea's win was built around the experience of their forwards, including player-of-the-day Richie Eagle and fellow veteran prop Boy Waaka, along with loose hooker Colin Hokianga, who battled on despite injury, and loose forward Hamiora Rowlands. Also helping round off the team for coach Adrian Rowlands are some younger backs, including fullback Tyson Johnson who put in a promising performance.