By Shane Hurndell

Napier Old Boys Marist have won Hawke's Bay premier club rugby's Nash Cup with one round remaining.

And the unbeaten Green Machine secured the cup in emphatic fashion with a surprisingly comfortable 70-12 victory over defending champions Taradale in their sixth round clash at Park Island's Tremain Field on Saturday. NOBM last won the cup in 2018.

Last year Taradale and NOBM both finished on 41 points in the Nash Cup competition but because Taradale won the match between the two sides 22-17 they were awarded the cup.

"Totally unexpected," NOBM assistant coach Matt Wyatt remarked as he reflected on the hosts winning margin.

"Our front row gave us dominance at set piece time and set the foundation for our win," Wyatt explained.

Wyatt agreed the victory was the perfect celebration for tighthead prop Patrick Teddy who played his 50th match for NOBM. Teddy played his first match for the Green Machine in 2018 and returned to the club last year after a stint in Aussie.

Second five-eighth Jedidiah Corbett had his best match of the season for NOBM. Powerful No 8 Kaihau Pasikala also shone in a side which had no passengers.

"It was one of those days ... we have to take it on the chin and move on," Taradale assistant coach Andrew Gardner lamented.

"We were off the pace this time. Fortunately  we get another chance to play them again in the Maddison Trophy. We've got to rectify a few things and I still believe we have the team to make it happen," Gardner said.

Openside flanker Carlo Mienie was the best of the Taradale players.

MAC produced their best performance of the season before being pipped 27-26 by Napier Technical at Flaxmere Park.

"I was extremely happy with our first 60 minutes. But we let ourselves down in the last 20 and discipline lapses towards the end allowed Tech to score a couple of late tries," MAC coach Anthony Morley explained.

Morley was impressed with refereeing display from Dan Waenga. MAC vice captain and lock Teokotai Reiri was inspirational in his 50th outing for the side. 

Openside flanker Tulafono Tafolo, lock Fraser Taurima-Heperi and the inside back combination of halfback Bronson Hokianga and first five-eighth Alatasi Tupou were others to be singled out by Morley.

"We started off well, went off the boil and then fought our way back," Texans manager Cyril Whitburn explained.

Tech wingers Isimeli Vono and Elia Bari both made the most of their opportunities. Lock Elijah Martin and prop Nik Patumaka were full of authority in the winning pack.

Superior dominance at the collision propelled Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports to their 48-25 victory over Hastings Rugby and Sports at the Ian MacRae Field. Captain and No 8 Tiaki Fabish and flankers Drew Berg-McLean and Hugh Taylor were all prominent.

Second five-eighth Anaru Paenga-Morgan was the best of the Pirate backs.

"Errors let us down and our discipline was poor at times," Hastings coach Jason Long explained. His openside flanker Perez Malo and No 8 Taufaeteau Kaufononga had huge work rates.

First five-eighth Oscar Sowman was the pick of the Hastings backs.

Havelock North ran in 18 tries during a 112-5 drubbing of Bridge Pa at the Mitre 10 Sports Park. However Havelock coach Exham Wichman heaped kudos on their hosts.

"Bridge Pa could have bailed but they made sure they displayed a bit of mana for themselves and their supporters."

Winger Eroni Nawaqa, who scored four tries, was Havelock's player-of-the-day. Lock Liam Murphy and hooker Peivi Peivi, in his first starting XV appearance, also made the visitors MVP list.

Scorers:

Napier Old Boys Marist 70 (Michael Beech (3), Elis Lewis (2), Kaihau Pasikala, Will Tremain, Kane Ngawhare, Zach Taulapapa, Matt Monaghan, Kere Penitito tries; Jonty Stewart 6 cons, pen), Taradale 12 (Hadlee Hay-Horton, Hunter Morrison tries; Luke Thomas con). 

Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports 48 (Jarryd Broughton (2), Anaru Paenga-Morgan (2), Andrew Tauatevalu, Charlie Nash, Tiaki Fabish, Ricco Tran tries; Tauatevalu 2, Sheridan Rangihuna 2 cons), Hastings Rugby and Sports 25 (Caleb Horsefield, Kusi Drauna, Saifiti Saifiti, Bryson Ioane tries; Oscar Sowman pen, con). 

Napier Technical 27 (Isimeli Vono (2), Ben Te Hau, Kingsley Morris, Elia Bari tries; Leighton Shaw con), MAC 26 (Bronson Hokianga, Charlie Salevao, TK Tokorima Kata, Donovan Godinet tries; Alatasi Tupou 3 cons). 

Havelock North 112 (Eroni Nawaqa (4), Alex Philip (3), Will Cole (3), Marcus Leach (3), Le'Sharn Reiri-Paku (2), Tyler Mou, Richard Stephenson, Sam Lamborn tries; Reiri-Paku 7, Cole 4 cons), BridgePa 5 (Not Supplied).

Article added: Tuesday 28 April 2026