Hastings Rugby & Sports battled out an entertaining 36-all draw against Clive on a cold afternoon, with the match going right down to the final whistle in a tense and physical contest.
Both sides traded blows throughout the game in what was a tight encounter from start to finish. Hastings showed plenty of attacking flair, led by an incredible individual performance from Tiliga Junior Lomiata, who crossed for four tries while also slotting four conversions and a penalty goal to finish with a remarkable 31 points for the day. His late penalty kick ensured Hastings came away with a share of the points after another nail-biting finish.
The forwards worked hard all game, and Jayden Papuni-Matchitt impressed with his lineout throwing after putting in extra throwing sessions with Jason Long during the week. The improvement showed on game day, helping Hastings secure quality ball in crucial moments.
One of the highlights of the afternoon was the return of manager Liam Wyley, who pulled the boots back on after a couple of years away from the game. Despite limited minutes, Liam survived his 10-minute cameo and added plenty of laughs and energy to the sideline and field alike.
Overall, it was a gritty performance from Hastings in tough conditions, with the team continuing to show resilience and improvement each week.
MVP points: 3 points – Jayden Papuni-Matchitt, 2 points – Tiliga Junior Lomiata, 1 point – Isaia Seumanutafa
