2019 Hawke's Bay Representative Rugby
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From HBRU FB page:
Thriller here in Taupo as the boys have railed back from 9 -3 down to pip North Harbour 10-9. After numerous attempts at the line from close range Patrick Teddy barged over and Arana Murphy slotted a wide conversion for the boys to hit the front 6 minutes from full time. A nervous few minutes ensued and North Harbour had a last minute penalty goal attempt to grab victory. Fortunately it sailed wide to secure a spot in the Michael Jones Trophy final. Kick off is 3.25pm on Saturday with the opponent either Ta$man or Taranaki.Opponent in the Championship Final will be Taranaki that beat Ta$man 47 - 27.
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HBT article about today's game:
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503460&objectid=12266853
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From what I hear the squad is stoked about the win. Harbour were arguably the better team and the HB crew weren’t sure they had done enough using the tailwind in the first half. They blew a couple of opportunities and should have turned around a couple of scores up. But they ground out the 2nd half and the conversion 5 mins out into the wind was great.
I’ll try and get some gen on their impressions of the Naki boys ahead of the final.
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Rep games 14 - 15 September 2019:
Tui squad for the game against North Harbour below.
Note the name Mikaele-Tu'u in the reserves. Liana is the younger sister of Marino and Antonio. Also a loosie, who - I think - prefers the 8 jersey. I think this is her last year at school. She'll make her first-class debut tomorrow, when she comes off the bench. She absolutely dominated when she played for Hastings Girls at the Condor 7s, last year and also played for the Hawke's Bay Women's Sevens team in 2018. She's also a Hawke's Bay and NZ Netball rep. I hope we won't lose her to another province, next year, like Renee Holmes, who now plays for Waikato (going to Uni in Hamilton, I presume).
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Hawke's Bay U14:
1 Malachi Kireka-Keefe
2 Manaia Hauiti
3 Jack Irvine
4 Aidan Flack
5 Levi Robinson
6 Sovereign Staples
7 D'Angelo Etika
8 Telea Faumui
9 Joel Russell
10 Monte Timu
11 Taufa Kaufononga
12 Preston Whatarau
13 Tali Ioasa
14 Phortre Taea-Gurnick
15 Joshua Augustine
16 Juan Ross
17 Kyan Ward
18 Ollie Barham
19 Tama Heather
20 Maika Graham
21 Te Aotaki Edmonds
22 Ngarangi Hokianga -
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It looks like the Hawke's Bay Saracens have again lost their game in the second half. I wonder what's up with that? They had a decent looking bench. Subbed too late? Or did the Wellington team wake up late?
FT: Hawke's Bay Saracens 31 - 40 Wellington Development (HT: 26 - 14)
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Sir Michael Jones Trophy Final
Full time:
9th/10th place: Hawke's Bay 25 - 52 TaranakiThe Bay had to go very deep in the semis in that tight game against Harbour and I think they paid for it in this game. Too many handling errors and missed tackles. Set piece not functioning well, although it improved in the 2nd half. Esp the pick and go in the second half went well and the boys showed great patience. It was unfortunate that the ref allowed Taranaki to offend so much without real consequences. Only two yellow cards; another ref might have handed out 4. It - no doubt - cost us points.
Having said that, Taranaki was definitely the better team and fully deserved their victory.
I'm not too sure what the biggest problem is with this team. Most of the forwards played very well for Napier 1st XV last year. Add Liam Udy-Johns, and you have a good pack, although maybe lacking a bit in size (with a few exceptions). The timing of the rolling subs was a bit off at times, and I would have started Oskar Lynch instead of Sean Baker.
I think our greatest weakness was the lack of quality backs, apart from maybe Gideon Kautai, although I should add that they didn't get too much ball either. We certainly could have used players like Leo Thompson and Michael Naitokani (Canterbury).
Some of Napier 1st XV's other good backs (Jayden Stock, Jack Sheridan, Henry Williams), as well as their best prop (Jayden Walker) from last year were still playing for Napier 1st XV this year, so weren't eligible. Apart from the Thompson twins and Naitokani, five-eight Keegan Christian-Goss also seems to have disappeared from the Bay (not sure where he is). Halfback Treyah Kingi left for St Kent's and has been named in the NZ Schools squad.
Taranaki had by far the bulk of the possession and territory. Their line speed was good and our tackling was poor. I suggest extensive tackle training for all players. Ball handling was also an issue.
I can't see many Bay players getting an invitation for the U20s camps; Patrick Teddy should be IMO, maybe Liam Udy-Johns, that's about it.
For next year, don't expect too much improvement, as the great bulk of players from this year's Hastings 1st XV won't be eligible as they'll go back to school for another year. We'll, however, have Latrell Smiler-Ah Kiong. Hopefully, the HBRU pick up Jordan Thompson-Dunn, Jayden Walker and some of forementioned Napier backs (particularly Jack Sheridan) as well.
Sorry for the long write-up. Just some thoughts.
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Rep games on Sat 21 September:
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Central Secondary Schools Shield (5th-6th place play-off)
Hawke’s Bay Saracens U18 v Horowhenua-Kapiti U18 - Tremain Field, Napier @ 1.00pm -
Manawatū U18 Girls v Hawke’s Bay U18 Girls - CET Arena (#1), Palmerston Nrth @ 1.00pm
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Hurricanes U16 Tournament
Hawke's Bay U16 v Manawatū U16 - Rugby Park, Dannevirke @ 1.00pm
Hawke's Bay U16 Dev v Poverty Bay U16 - Wairoa College @ 1.00pm -
Hawke’s Bay U14 v Hawke’s Bay U15 Co-ed - Tremain Field, Napier @ 1.00pm
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Hawke’s Bay Māori v Manawatū Māori - Whitmore Park, Napier @ 1.30pm
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Mixed results from yesterday's games. I couldn't find the result of the U18 girls' game.
Hawke's Bay Saracens U18 10 - 33 Horowhenua-Kāpiti U18
Hawke's Bay U16 26 - 8 Manawatū U16
Hawke's Bay U16 Dev 5 - 40 Poverty Bay U16
Hawke's Bay U14 39 - 7 HB U15 Co-ed Boys
Hawke's Bay Māori 67 - 0 Manawatū Māori -
Another try fest from the Tui! They've beaten Ta$man 55 to 5.
The age range in this squad is insane. The oldest is probably Emma Jensen at 41 and the reserve prop who scored a try on debut today, Lukika Fa'avae, is only 16. Under the competition rules, they must have asked and obtained dispensation from NZR to be able to select her.
Great season thus far. Their biggest round robin game of the season comes next week, when they play Otago.
