Hawke's Bay, Nelson host second division semis

Unbeaten Hawke's Bay will play North Otago and Nelson Bays will host an improving Counties-Manukau in next weekend's NPC second division rugby semifinals.

Top finishers Hawke's Bay, who beat Mid Canterbury 99-8 in Napier yesterday, will meet fourth placed North Otago on Saturday and Nelson (second), who beat North Otago 30-10 in Nelson, play Counties (third) on Sunday.

Counties clinched their place after beating East Coast 30-14 but could be without centre Niva Ta'auso, who was taken off on a stretcher following an accidental head collision.

Although Counties-Manukau deserved their win, they were made to work hard by an East Coast side who, in patches, played some of their best rugby of the season.

"That was the problem, we only played in patches," East Coast coach Joe McClutchie said.

"And at this level that's not good enough, you have to play for the 80 minutes."

Waka Setitaia, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Carl Stephens and Mark Price scored a try each for Counties.

Hawke's Bay scored their 27th consecutive win at home and confirmed winless Mid Canterbury's relegation to the third division next season.

Lock Rob Evans, openside flanker Nui Bartlett, winger Sefulu Gau Gau and centre Andy Barham scored three tries each.

In the feature game of the round, Nelson secured a home semifinal with maximum points against North Otago, who won promotion from the third division this season.

Flanker Mark Bright scored three of Nelson's four tries.

North Otago were never in the match, played in constant rain, as Nelson Bays' forwards produced a superb effort to keep the visitors under constant pressure.

Nelson dominated the scrums and gained valuable ground in the wet conditions through their driving maul.

Manawatu prevailed 43-33 over Marlborough in Palmerston North.

- NZPA