RUGBY
Elvis has left the building. Or to put it another way, Enterprise Cars Ngati Porou East Coast club rugby frontrunners Tihirau Victory Club have the bye in Week 3.
TVC and Tokararangi both have nine competition points, with defending champions Uawa (6pts), Tokomaru Bay United (4pts), Waiapu (1pt), Hikurangi and Hicks Bay placed three to seven.
Tomorrow’s games start at 2.30pm — Tokararangi v Waiapu at Te Araroa Domain (referee Jackson Rueben), Hicks Bay v Uawa at Te Rahui o Te Rangi (Matt Richards) and United v Hikurangi at Hatea-a-Rangi (Eruera Kawhia).
Tokararangi head coach Israel Brown has basic instructions for his crew to follow.
“I want them to focus on nailing the basics — making tackles, ball-skills, no knock-ons, no forward passes,” said Brown, whose captain and openside flanker Hone Haerewa also refuses to let complacency take root
“We’re not taking Waiapu lightly,” Haerewa said.
“They’ve got good leaders in Hamuera Baker (halfback), Richard Green (lock) and Gabe Te Kani (blindside flanker).”
Another player Tokararangi must keep tabs on is Waiapu first five-eighth Slade Tiopira. His generalship and goal-kicking are crucial to the visitors’ chances.
Rapata Haerewa, Tokararangi’s first-five, is as good a pivot and watching the two of them operate tomorrow will be an education.
YOU'RE most nervous when you know you’ve got a chance. By that standard, Tokomaru Bay United should be nervous, because with hard work and passion they put to one side a 56-0 home loss to Uawa, beat Waiapu 17-13 and now host Hikurangi.
Those at Hatea-a-Rangi tomorrow should expect Hikurangi — under captain and openside flanker Tanetoa Parata — to compete hard in every phase of play. To play for “The Maunga” (Mount Hikurangi) is to wear one of the “biggest” jerseys in East Coast rugby.
Under head coach George Reedy, Hikurangi are committed to each other, high club standards and a businesslike approach on the park. Coaches of experience have the perspective of years in the game, and that is the enormous value of Reedy to Hikurangi and Joe McClutchie. United captain and loosehead prop Mike Chambers-Raroa backs that up.
“It’s great to have old heads around a young team — they keep them calm while they progress,” he said.
“We’ve gelled, we’re loving playing rugby, and just about the whole community’s coming to training.”
Halfback Sebastian Chambers-Raroa, No.8 Petera Smith, fullback Jason Babbington and hooker Portrait Whakataka are some that Hikurangi will have to watch.