On Oval 1, also at 2.45pm, the Clint Pirihi-coached Enterpise Cars OBM host Larsawn Ngatapa, coached by Heith Hawea and Matt Evans.
Hawea is a popular figure at Ngatapa and is in his first year as their head coach at premier level.
“We’re looking good,” he said.
“We’ve had excellent numbers at training and great enthusiasm to go with that. The plan is to win.”
The Ngatapa front row, with Campbell Chrisp at loosehead prop, will be workmanlike under captain and lock Dan Law.
On the wings, the green-and-whites have Cam Rowden — a gutsy player who punches above his weight — and the formidable Peter Livingston, who is a handful on the fly and not one to succumb easily in the tackle.
HSOB won a hat-trick of championships from 2015 to 2017 and have quality people in team management to guide a capable crew.
Tamanui Hill is a tough No.8 and a straight-shooter, lock Fletcher Scammell was magnificent all-round last season and halfback Scott Tallott has said that his aim is to regain form and confidence. He never shies off a tackle and a good showing in that department early on could serve as the catalyst.
All teams need to be inspired at some point,and fetcher Trent Proffit can inspire HSOB tomorrow with hard tackling, driving play and ball security.
Waikohu player-coach Smith and his skilful backs keep mighty company.
The biggest man in New Zealand rugby, tighthead prop Jarryd Broughton, did for Poverty Bay at Heartland level last year exactly what he’d done for Waikohu earlier in the season to greater effect than had previously been the case.
He barged past and over the opposition on the way to the tryline.
The McGuire brothers, Matekairoa at hooker and Tane at centre, are very good players and will influence the game.
Coming off the reserves bench for Waikohu will be rake Geoff Pari, who twice led them to grand final glory, including their first Lee Bros Shield win in 2018.
“Our boys are excited to be playing HSOB this weekend, but even more to be playing rugby again and representing the club,” Smith said.
“We’ll enjoy the occasion; that’s about honouring the late, great All Black Richard ‘Tiny’ White. We lost at this time at home last year and that hurt, so we’ll look to start this season well.”
Pirates’ principal sponsor, Kevin Hollis, knows that attendance at pre-season training in the Covid-19 era has been variable but he also sees big up-and-comers in locks Kauri Waitoa and Kyah Hollis, and promising backs such as Lyric Akurangi, who can play second five-eighth as capably as he can centre.
The Buccaneers have muscle in the form of hard-nosed hooker Jody Tuhaka and expert back-rower Will Bolingford to help bring on the youngsters.
YMP, their opponents tomorrow, have an established captain and hooker in Shayde Skudder, whose leadership style has impressed.
YMP play with great passion. Under new head coach Tamatea, a thinking man’s player in his time, they could do great things.
Tamatea’s predecessor, Brian Leach, with the help of forwards coach Colin Skudder, oversaw a revamp in discipline and a positive approach to the game.
That base is one Tamatea can and will build on.
“Not having had a long pre-season build-up doesn’t faze us because we’ve got a core of experienced players and boys who’ve come up from our Bumbles Senior 1 team, which is great to see,” Tamatea said.
“It will take us time to get the on-field combinations but off the field, our team clicks.
My expectations are that we grow through the season, be good role models for our JAB teams and support our netball and hockey teams.”
