2021 Hawke's Bay club rugby

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MAC won the 2021 Tom Mulligan Cup in division 2, this morning. They beat Waipawa 44 to 32.

The Colts final between Central and Taradale was very close and Central lead for most of the game, but Taradale got the one-point win. The final score was 26 to 25 to Taradale.

Now the main game. Anyone else watching?

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First points go to Taradale, with Brad Truesdale kicking a penalty goal.

0 - 3 Taradale

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Taradale with all the possession so far.

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Hmm, not sure the ref got that right. It looked like Hastings won the turnover, but ref is penalising them for something. Scrum close to the Hastings try line, right in front of the posts.

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Very good try to Majella Tufuga (Taradale) in the corner! You could see that one coming. Not sure who was responsible for that great loopy pass in his direction.

Truesdale can't convert.

0 - 8 Taradale

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Wow, and now a great kick from Truesdale. Line-out at about 10m from the Hastings' try line.

Hastings steal it, and then earn a free kick.

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Some handling errors from Hastings already; the latest a knock-on from Toala. They had advantage though.

Now, Hastings penalised for a high tackle on Sapsford.

Truesdale attempts a penalty kick, about 15m into the Hastings' half, and nails it.

0 - 11 Taradale

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Haha, grubber kick from Devery and it works out well. Now, Thompson-Dunn with a good kick and Hastings get a line-out on the T'dale 5m line.

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Good defence from T'dale. Hastings line-out drive stopped. Scrum on the 5m.

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Hastings hot on attack now. Momentum shift? T'dale giving away penalties. Hastings going to the line-out ...

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Another penalty to Hastings. Ref warning T'dales captain (Namatahi Waa). Scrum time.

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And it leads to nothing. Great clearing kick from Truesdale, and we're back in Hastings half, who get a line-out on their 22.

I've noticed that McLeod is pretty slow; Sheild is much faster.

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Gene Syminton scores off a line-out drive! Very close to the touch line.

Truesdale misses the conversion.

0 - 16 Taradale after approx. 33 minutes.*

Hastings can't seem to get into the game.

*on-screen clocks in these livestreams don't stop if the ref stops time.

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And another try to Syminton. You guessed it, from a line-out maul! It's going to be difficult for Hastings to come back now. They're just not in the game.

Truesdale again misses the conversion.

0 - 21 Taradale

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Another high tackle from Hastings penalised on Hastings' 50m. Truesdale kick for touch and T'dale get a line-out at about 20m from Hastings' try line.

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Hastings manages to stop the line-out drive, so T'dale continue with the pick 'n go. Rihia intercepts a pass, but T'dale was under advantage. Another line-out coming up, 5m out.

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Emil Crichton yellow-carded for jumping early in the line-out. T'dale go again.

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Taradale butchers that. It's half time.

Hastings 0 - 21 Taradale

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Great turnover from Toala. Line-out Hastings just in the T'dale half.

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Now a mistake from Truesdale, who kicks the ball out on the full.

Not sure who one of the commentators is, but he makes the interesting comment that Truesdale is a real 10 and that Thompson-Dunn is a midfielder playing 10, hence why his kicking game is not as good as Truesdale's.

It's a pity that Thompson-Dunn has been pushed in that 10-role for Hastings. It would be much better for him to play in that 12 jersey. I guess they don't have a real 10?