Hastings Rugby and Sports Club (HRS) achieved a triumphant victory in their recent match against Napier Pirate, solidifying their strong position in the Premier club rugby standings despite earlier challenges with player availability. The game, held at Park Island in Napier, culminated in a 49-24 win for HRS, following a dominant first half and a resilient effort to withstand pressure in the second half.
The head coach of HRS, Jason Long, expressed the team’s elation at the victory, acknowledging the struggles they encountered in assembling a complete roster for each game this season. Long elaborated, “We have had to rely on many of our Colts and second-division players to step up and play for us. Many of them have been playing beforehand and then sitting on the bench for us, so we are truly pleased with where we stand after four rounds, but it has certainly been a challenging journey.”
With a halftime score of 42-7 in their favor, HRS effectively utilized the wind to dominate the first half. However, in the second half, Napier Pirate gained momentum and scored three tries compared to HRS’s one. Long highlighted the team’s resilience during extended periods of defensive play, ultimately leading to their triumph.
The return of Neria Fomai and Danny Toala from playing for Moana Pasifika significantly strengthened the team in the recent match, with Fomai scoring four tries. Additionally, emerging talent such as lock Daniel Toala and former winger turned centre Issac Hinton made significant contributions to the team’s performance.
The victory against Napier Pirate positions HRS at the top of the Premier table, sharing the spot with Taradale and Havelock North, each with four wins and 20 points.
In other results, Napier Tech secured a 47-28 victory against Napier Old Boys Marist (NOBM) on home turf. Tech coach Craig Wyllie commended the teams for their spirited gameplay and emphasized the importance of possession in the match.
Meanwhile, Bryan Te Huki of Aotea Sports Club paid tribute to Mark Johnson for officiating his 100th Premier game and honored the passing of Hawke’s Bay’s Colin Francis, who passed away at home on April 7th. CHB achieved a 47-29 win against Aotea, with the latter displaying improvement despite falling short in the match.
With outstanding performances from players and a demonstration of sportsmanship throughout the recent matches, the teams competing in the Premier club rugby standings have exhibited the competitive spirit and camaraderie that are fundamental to the sport.