All aboard for Ngatapa club day at Patutahi

Rematch of opening round: Ngatapa back Matt Raleigh looks to split the defence of OBM as he makes a run in the opening of round one. Ngatapa lost this encounter and will look to settle the score tomorrow as they face OBM in Patutahi with kick-off at 2.45pm. Picture by Paul Rickard

Ngatapa club day at Patutahi has a marvellous vibe.

Third division championship-winning former Poverty Bay head coach Kiwi Searancke said, “Performances create occasions and not the other way around.” Larsawn Ngatapa might remember that, even as they look to take the Graeme Allen Memorial Cup from 2021 Civil Project Solutions Premier Rugby grand finalists Enterprise Cars OBM tomorrow.

The Ngatapa-OBM game on Paddy’s Park 1 in Week 6 will start at 2.45pm, as will the game between unbeaten competition leaders and defending champions GT Shearing Waikohu and High School Old Boys at Te Karaka Domain, and that between East Coast Farm Vets YMP and Kevin Hollis Glass Pirates on Barry Park 1.

Ngatapa captain and blindside flanker Dan Law has told his side to brace themselves.

“OBM are coming off a win against YMP so it’ll be important for us to start strongly, put them on the back foot, then stay in the game,” said the green-and-whites’ No.6.

“We’ve changed a few things up for the second round and have a more forward-oriented game plan.”

OBM can muscle up and also play expansively. They know, too, that their hosts are coming off a 62-17 loss. Thumpings from Waikohu take a toll; with the Premier Cup for the first round at stake and with Waikohu in the mood to run amok, whoever drew the champs that week was going to be on a hiding to nothing.

OBM captain and hooker Rikki Terekia respects Ngatapa — and their leadership. He played under both Law and Waikohu player-coach Kelvin Smith in a superb team performance by Poverty Bay last Saturday.

Terekia expects it to be a great club day at Patutahi and an 80-minute battle of the highest order. Two players the visitors can certainly not afford to take their eyes off will be in-form Ricardo Patricio (at centre tomorrow, as opposed to reserve first-five as he was for the Bay) and fullback Matt Raleigh. Raleigh is a quick thinker, and skilful. Given half a gap, he can make a try for others if not score himself.

OBM openside flanker Keanu Taumata and No.8 Gabe Olsen ought not to escape Ngatapa’s sight. Their work-rate, as with that of the red, white and blue pack overall, is high. Each of the forwards complements another.

Under referee Damien Macpherson, with assistants Ben Holt (AR1) and Barry Shirley Snr (AR2), the game should flow in front of what traditionally is a crowd in the high hundreds on club day at Patutahi.