Big match-ups end first round of Coast rugby

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

You would be hard-pressed to make a more rugged game than this.

Powerful Hikurangi travel to Te Araroa Domain to play Tokararangi — a match which, place on the seven-team table and form aside, both crews always get up for.

All three games in Week 7 of Ngati Porou East Coast club rugby have points of interest.

Unbeaten competition leaders Hicks Bay host 2017 champions Tihirau Victory Club at Wharekahika. The home team triumphed 29-24 v Hikurangi last Saturday, while Uawa beat TVC 34-30 at Te Kura Mana Maori o Whangaparaoa.

East Coast club rugby margins may occasionally be narrow but the stakes high. A win tomorrow could see TVC bump Uawa from second spot. A loss might have either Hikurangi or Tokararangi start to push TVC hard for third position.

Uawa under captain lock Scott Lasenby go into their home game v Tokomaru Bay United favoured to win with a bonus point, but their skipper refuses to take victory against the competition’s 7th-placed visitors for granted.

The first round ends on Saturday. Hikurangi beat Tokararangi 29-19 at Whakarua Park to retain the Kath McLean Memorial Trophy in 2018. This weekend the only two left in the race for that prize are Hicks Bay and Uawa.

Ruatoria City have the bye in Week 7. All matches kick off at 2.30pm.

“Take nothing away from them, they seem to bring extra passion and excitement when they play us,” said Lasenby of tomorrow’s clash with Tokomaru Bay United.

“This far into the comp, games can go either way, so sticking to our game-plan and discipline are also important.”

Tokararangi captain No.8 Hone Haerewa wants a complete performance from his hard-nosed team: nuggety hooker Tina Waitoa and strongman Chris Bristowe as anchor of the scrum are experienced, tough campaigners. Bristowe is a very good tighthead prop.

“Hikurangi are a tough side and with a lot of new players in our team, I’m looking for leaders to step up and show the newbies the way we do things,” said Haerewa. “And I know they will.”

Hikurangi’s Doone Harrison is keeping events in perspective.

“We’re taking games week by week. That’s the attitude we need again this weekend,” he said.

As with Tokararangi, Harrison’s men have won just two of their five games but from that 34-19 opening-day win v Ruatoria City onwards, they have applied themselves fully in what is a big year — Hikurangi’s centenary.

The team has started training at their new ground, Kahuitara, and they played with determination for a 12-all draw v TVC at Cape Runaway a fortnight ago.

The awesome physicality of Hikurangi v Tokararangi is something that fans should experience at least once in their rugby lifetime . . . and although the forecast is good, were the weather to turn the thrill-factor would increase.

The referees for tomorrow’s games are: Matt Richards (Hicks Bay v Tihirau Victory Club), Peter Matahiki (Tokararangi v Hikurangi) and Jimmy Green (Uawa v Tokomaru Bay United).