Hawkes Bay Schoolboy Rugby

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Hastings definitely having the better of the game at the moment.

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Great break from CJ Mienie but he loses the ball in the excellent tackle from a Hastings player.

Both teams back to making lots of mistakes at the moment.

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Lots of feeling in this game. Not a surprise in this local derby. A Napier player is sent to the bin. It's Troy Thomas.

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Hastings go for the penalty. Mokau Lambert misses.

Commentators laughing because the naughty chair is right next to Hastings' bench and Thomas is on the receiving end of some banter.

Hastings' try scorer Taufaeteau Kaufononga receiving a bit of injury treatment now.

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There's a good crowd at Napier Boys. @Higgins, are you there?

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Great attack from Hastings, but Mokau Lambert knocks the ball on not too far from Napier's try line. Napier get the scrum deep into their own half.

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Hastings Boys' need to work on their scrum. Every time they seem to dominate, but not legally. Now penalised again for wheeling.

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Great attack from CJ Mienie. A Napier player is dumped on the ground. That may have been a tip tackle, but play continues.

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Napier pick and go close to Hastings' try line.

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Hastings Boys penalised for offside. Ref now talking to the Hastings' captain. Looking at the replay and it was definitely a tip tackle by Hastings' hooker.

Napier score off the penalty. Richie Magele, the TH prop.

Jacob Cotter converts.

17 - 15 Napier

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Napier back to 15 players.

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Hastings are really lucky that their hooker wasn't sent to the bin. The player did fall on his back. That could/should have been yellow.

Hastings get a penalty at the other end of the field and Mokau Lambert slots it.

17 - 18 Hastings

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10 minutes to go

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Hastings' defence has been really good.

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Napier line-out midfield. Maul .. Ta$man Soanai-Oeti pumping the legs and going forward ..

The attack continues. There goes Ta$man again ..

Close to Hastings' try line now ..

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Try to Napier! Captain Ta$man Soanai-Oeti thorougly deserved that one. Outstanding leadership.

Jacob Cotter converts the try.

24 - 18 Napier after 29 minutes in the second half.

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Hastings line-out not going well either. Not straight again. Napier get the scrum feed.

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Time's up!

Full time: Napier Boys' 24 - 18 Hastings Boys'

[Magpie_in_aus]

The good guys win!

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All in all, I don't think there was much between both teams, but mainly because of handling errors from Napier Boys'. Hastings Boys' defence was good, but a lot of Napier's turnovers came from knock-ons and dropped balls, although some of those as a result of forementioned good tackles from Hastings'. Napier's weak spot is their right wing; I've noticed that in a few games now; tackling being a huge problem. If Hastings works on their scrum, it could become a real weapon. The strength is there; just technique letting them down a bit.

Both teams play with a lot of new, inexperienced players, but Napier still have a few good leaders left in their team, most notably Ta$man Soanai-Oeti, Luke Thomas, Angus Prouting and CJ Mienie. There seems to be more cohesion in their team. Hastings Boys' have good players, have good skills, but no one really stands out, yet. That will come with time, I think. I liked what I saw from their try-scoring blindside flanker Taufaeteau Kaufononga.

It's my impression that both teams will struggle to finish in the top 2, this season. The real test for Napier will come on 26 July when they'll try to defend the Polson Banner in Palmerston North. Those Manawatū referees better be on their best behaviour, unlike previous years.