Cottrell sets pace for Bay's 41 25 victory | Hawkes Bay Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Hawkes Bay

Tipene Cottrell contributed 21 points when the Hawke's Bay Development rugby side opened their Hurricanes competition with a 41-25 win against Manawatu in Palmerston North on Saturday.

The Napier Technical first five-eighth kicked five penalties and three conversions from 10 attempts at goal during his player-of-the-match performance. While thrilled with the final result, Bay coach Joe Payton didn't have fond memories of the first half.

"We were behind 22-16 at halftime and weren't really in the game. But in the second half we got into it by applying pressure with keeping the ball closer in and being a bit more direct. We were able to create five, six and seven phases at a time," said Payton.

Along with Cottrell, his clubmate and openside flanker Hugh Reed and Taradale prop-lock Jodi Allen were others to feature on Payton's MVP list.

The Hawke's Bay Tuis completed their campaign with a 39-12 win against Manawatu at Napier's Park Island on Saturday.

Te Aroha Hunt, who had stints at blindside flanker and lock, secured the Tuis player-of-the-match award before leaving the field after injuring her knee.

Halfback Gemma Woods and prop Sharlena Maui were others to make coach Cheryl Heremia's MVP list.

Maui, who appeared in the starting XV for the first time and played the full game, was one of three Hawke's Bay secondary schoolgirl players in the winning side. Lock Samantha Gerretzen and substitute hooker Jess Carter were the others.

Another Tuis prop, Nicky Evans, scored two tries against her former team.

Loose forward Kaleb Sweet scored two tries in the Hawke's Bay under-18 side's 33-10 walloping of Manawatu in Waipukurau. Halfback Karl Hewitt, hooker Zac Nevison, prop Moughan Sali and Adam Blake, who had stints at first five-eighth and fullback, were others to impress in the victory.

The Hawke's Bay under-16s completed the province's weekend clean sweep over Manawatu and maintained their unbeaten run for the season with a 29-7 win in Dannevirke yesterday.

The Elijah Martin-captained Bay outfit scored 22 unanswered points in the second half.

Powerful prop Tim Cadwallader, who scored two tries, was inspirational and his Lindisfarne College teammate and Bay vice-captain Waka Smith was always a threat on attack in both the second five-eighth and fullback positions.