“We just need to keep climbing the ladder week by week, rung by rung. We’ve trialled lads in different positions and they’ve all performed well, such as Ricardo Patricio and Nashwen Mouton in the centres, and Jack Fuller and Jake Malbon on the side of the scrum.”
Ngatapa head coach Heith Hawea said: they were excited to host Pirates “but for us, in terms of what’s important, there is no big factor. We’re looking to build consistency and continue to improve.”
Pirates strongman and No.8 Willy Bolingford can see where the Buccaneers have been improving and expects that to continue.
“Our boys have been going really well. There’s a good mix of experience, leadership, and younger players coming through who are all keen to learn and get amongst the action,” Bolingford said. “Good talent is coming through the ranks, which for the future of our club is very promising, and Bernard Nepe at lock is an awesome captain.
“He is well-respected and he leads these guys well with both actions and words.”
Among Pirate’s great assets is lock Kyah Hollis. At well over two metres tall, he is a genuine springheels and with the likes of loosehead prop Jody Tuhaka — who led HSOB to their 17th Lee Brothers Shield triumph in 2016 — Hollis is in good hands.
Tuhaka and Ngatapa loosehead prop Campbell Chrisp have served together in the Poverty Bay front-row so Tuhaka knows what Chrisp and Co are about.
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