2023 Hawke's Bay Club Rugby
-
Went to the Hastings RS v Pirates match.
Neria Fomai played the whole 80 minutes for HRS while Jacob Devery (with well strapped-up right knee) played the first 40 only. Danny Toala was water boy.
Fomai scored two of Hastings three tries while Devery got the other.
Pirates, with the wind behind them in the second half, had just scored a converted try to close to one point behind at 13-12 and were on attack again in the Hastings 22 when Fomai intercepted and ran 80 metres for his second try.
Pirates conceded three yellow cards to Hastings one. At one point in the first half Pirates had 13 men.
When big tighthead prop Jarryd Broughton came on in the second half the Pirates scrum dominated Hastings, and towards the end of the game Hastings had a put in to a scrum in their own 22 and Pirates just shoved them right off it.
-
Somewhat belatedly back from Farndon Park (via Whitmore Park) and can confirm that Tech gave Clive a big caning, at least on the scoreboard. I took a while to put names to faces of the Tech newcomers but what my guys fronted with gives me confidence that there will be way more wins than any losses this season. Apparently thanks to the cyclones mainly the Altherm Terxans did not have any preseason games but you would never have known it with a converted try to debutant 2nd five Mr. Popoalii (at my age I've forgotten his Christian name at this time of night!) who stepped and powered his way through the defenders. Ah good the Tech wiseheads nodded and things got even better with another three converted tries within the first twenty odd minutes. Clive then got their act together a bit and scored a couple of converted tries each side of halftime to make it 28 - 14 which sort of reflected a bit more accuracy to the performances displayed. From the 45th minute on Tech sort of strolled in for another five tries to take the score to 69 - 14 when Mr. Eden-Whaitiri blew for full time. That scoreline does not really give an accurate indication to the resolve and effort put out by Clive with at least three tries coming directly though dropped balls and Clive errors etc. Still I'll take the win no matter what, mistakes often are as a result of pressure or opposition attempts to try and catch up on the scoreboard.
A fair number of Tech players stood out and to single them all out would take too much time and space here but the Second 5 Mr. Popoalii clearly enjoyed his time out there, as witnessed by his drop goal from a Clive goaline dropout that took everyone by surprise, as did another debutant Liam Udy-Johns who certainly lived up to the big expectation his reputation from his HBHS days bestowed on him. To me he looked to be a class player and should be pushing for HB Magpies squad selection, giving Sam Smith reason to seriously look over his shoulder. Think he may even have banked the three points in the Player of the Day Awards but if not then he could count himself hard done by.
My three men from my last year's colts team all looked comfortable at the step up in level and hopefully they will continue to show greater things with the experience they gather in each game they play.
Still a number of last seasons squad to be back in action but all in all a good hit out for the opening game of the season and back home next week we await with eager anticipation at the damage that might be inflicted on whoever the opposition might be. Rumour has it another new midfield back will hit the field so we await with anticipation to see if the buzz about him is true. With a game under their belts the cohesion that was lacking a bit might be overcome as the games go on and someone (or two or three) will be punished big time at some stage of the season.
Hope this early season appraisal give you some confidence @Magpie_in_aus Without being too brash I predict Tech will win way more games than they lose. -
-
@Number-10 Who is the new midfielder? I could hazard a guess, but I'd be wrong.
-
@Number-10 Not sure. Was too busy catching up with acquaintances that I had not seen since the end of last season and completely forgot to ask about that. Pretty sure he was only a semi regular last season as well so he might sort of be an "available if required but not permanent" player but don't take that as gospel. Will endeavour to get an answer for you next Saturday where I know Bethel Malasia should be back plus another midfield player that is new to the district (name unknown at this stage. Will also make enquiries about Jayden Stok as he was not in the squad yesterday and neither did I notice him amongst the crowd. He was a solid and dependable player last year so hopefully he is still lacing up his boots this season.
There are a couple of other guys from last season, younger ones too, that have not yet committed to playing, perhaps lacking motivation and/or desire to play but that might change in the next few weeks.
All in all a thoroughly enjoyable day out at Clive where it is a nice ground to watch from and always a welcome from the local supporters at the ground and in the Clubrooms afterward, or at least for me anyway! Mercifully they somehow managed to avoid any flooding damage when their position right close to the river would suggest they would be sitting ducks for it. -
@Billsy111 Some guy up from Christchurch (?) but have forgotten his christian name so he will remain as Mr. Popoalii to me at this stage. Looked quite threatening with a good number of tackle breaks as well as pretty good feeding of his outsides. Will probably get a truer indication of his playing strengths when Napier Old Boys and Hastings are the opposition in rounds three and four.
Rumur has it there will be another newcomer run out next week but was given no indication as to who he was other than he was also from out of town. -
-
@Billsy111 Would be good if it is but aren't the Sullivan boys from a Pirates family? My inkling was that the Tech arrival might also be out of Christchurch but guess we will all have to wait and see until all might be revealed in the not too distant future if the whisperings are true.
-
-
@Billsy111 Isn't the Pirates slogan "Once a Pirate, always a Pirate"? Anyway fingers really crossed if they do come home as that will give us a massive number of quality backs in our squad. Maybe some of the regulars from the last few seasons that are currently attached to Super teams might be heading up North and the gaps need filling? Then again Mr. Sims has either decided that the Sullivan brothers are better players than the incumbents and chased them or might simply have been handed a massive gift as Baylin has stated that he will return home at some stage and has decided now is that time.
-
@Billsy111 said in 2023 Hawke's Bay Club Rugby:
@Higgins Any names given
Sadly no but will probably be capable of performing at a more than decent standard in premier club rugby. Like you, I am in the dark as to who it might be, other than an intuitive guess he is probably out of Christchurch.
-
-
@Number-10 said in 2023 Hawke's Bay Club Rugby:
What has happened to Ted Walters, a stalwart of the Tech midfield for about the last 10 years?
He played for Poverty Bay in the Heartland competition, last year? Maybe he'll play his club rugby overthere? Just guessing.
-
@Higgins The name of the new midfielder is Falealii Popoalii. He played for Sydenham in the Canterbury Metro Premier Division 1, last year. He was in the Canterbury B squad, last year.
He's mentioned in the round 1 report from the HBT.
Hawke’s Bay club rugby: Tech click on opening day
Napier Tech Old Boys lost just one match last year. They started with 10 tries.
-
@Stargazer Ah, that explains why he looked to be a more than decent player. We have a good record of turning Canterbury B players into anything from All Blacks (Brodie Retallick was a Canty B Player wasn't he?) through to NZ Maori Captains onto Super Rugby Players and a number of guys easily footing it at NPC level. There were few others that didn't quite make it as well too but the positives outscored the negatives.
Where is Mr. Philpott these days? -
If, and it's a big if at this stage, one or both of the Sullivan brothers return home, I can't see them with any other club than Pirates. One of them (I can't remember which brother) even posted his support for the club on his instagram page not too long ago. Unfortunately, in his instagram stories, so it has disappeared, but I noticed it.
