Rugby: Four remain as quality play draws praise

Four teams remain in title contention after two days of play at the Wakely Shield rugby tournament in Taradale.

"Absolutely brilliant," tournament director for the under-50kg event, Bazil Wakely said after watching Napier East and Hastings West draw 19-all at Tareha Reserve.

"This was our second draw in as many days and this game was almost as good as the previous day's draw which was the best game in the nine-year history of the tournament.

"Spectators are thrilled with the quality of play produced in the two draws and they now realise the title winners are unlikely to be known until after the last game on Friday which is exactly what we want," Wakely explained.

Napier East led the thriller 12-10 at halftime. Napier East openside flanker Dakota Panapa was the player-of-the-match.

His brother and first five-eighth Sheridan Panapa also made the post-match MVP list. Busy No 8 David Tuanaki, who scored two tries, was the best of the Hastings West players.

The other match saw Hastings East wallop Wairoa 94-0. Wakely pointed out that despite conceding more points than in the previous day's 79-0 loss to Hastings West Wairoa's standard of play improved.

Hastings East could have reached the century had Wairoa fullback Reef Hooper not been so gutsy with his defensive work. Hooper was player-of-the-match.

Others to make the post-game MVP list were Hastings East hooker Isaiah Panirau and lock Liam Gardner. Hastings East goalkicker Alex Ryder converted 12 of his team's 14 tries and with his try finished the match with 29 points.

Today's games will see a clash of unbeaten sides Napier West and Hastings West and Wairoa will take on Napier East. Hastings West have the bye.

Scorers:

Napier East 19 (Dakota Panapa, Quin-Taylor Reti, Donte Hohepa tries; Connor Martin, Leighton Shaw cons), Hastings West 19 (David Tuanaki 2, Atalino Kepu tries; Jordan Thompson-Dunn 2 cons). HT: 12-10.

Hastings East 94 (George Merwood 2, James Hikawai-Haggerty 2, Jakob Bargh, Liam Gardner, Alex Ryder, Sam Hill, Ben Hulena, Isaiah Panirau, Kalim Lambert-Crichton, Caleb Waretini, Luke Russell, Julian Hikawai tries; Ryder 12 cons), Wairoa 0.

Chess round two: Jade Dixon (Hastings West) b Riley Hannan (Napier East), Blaize-Waiari Taylor (Wairoa) b Harry Rogers (Hastings East).