Coach believes Coast close to getting a win

TWO DOWN, ONE TO GO: Ngati Porou East Coast fullback Morrison Siliko beats two Horowhenua Kapiti defenders as halfback Kane Tamou prepares to tackle. Coast halfback Sam Parkes (right) and lock Adaam Ross get ready to support Siliko. All three are in action tomorrow when the Coast host Wairarapa Bush at Ruatoria. Picture by Paul Rickard

Buoyed by a good second-half display against Horowhenua Kapiti last week, Ngati Porou East Coast co-coach Troy Para believes his side are close to ending a losing Heartland streak that dates back to September 28, 2013, as his side prepare to host Wairarapa Bush at Whakarua Park tomorrow.

“I’m not going to come out and say we will win; there are still a lot of areas that need tidying up and Wairarapa will be coming here on the back of two bonus-point losses this season,” Para said.

“But Wayne (Ensor, co-coach) and I can see improvements.

“Our forwards played well at set pieces. OK, their scrum pushed us off the ball at times but we also pushed them off their own ball, and our lineouts worked well.

“It’s just consistency. We go through good spells where we do a lot of things right then miss a one-on-one tackle and that opens gaps, which at this level get punished. That’s the reality of this competition.

“You can get away with it at club level; at Heartland level you get punished. It puts pressure on the team, as the score keeps ticking over.”

Para and Ensor have been forced to make one change to the starting line-up, with right winger BJ Sidney ruled out with a knee injury.

Teina Potae takes Sidney’s place,while left wing Jayden Milner, who came off the bench last week, starts on the right wing ahead of Benny Haerewa,who goes on to the reserves bench.

There is also a change in the reserves, with Tanetoa Parata coming into the 22 for his first Heartland appearance this season

“Tane’s got a lot of experience and can cover all three loose forwards,” Para said.

“He’s also tall and gives us extra height in the lineout.”

The Coast coaches will once again look to their senior players in the pack — skipper and lock Hone Haerewa, prop Perrin Manuel and lock Adaam Ross (loan player from Auckland) to set the tone in the battle up front.

And while prop Hakarangi Tichborne, hooker Wyntah Riki, blindside flanker Rikki Kernohan, openside Jack Richardson and No.8 Buchanan Maxwell were all willing to put their bodies on the line, they must get to the breakdown quicker than last week.

If they can do that and secure enough quality ball, the Coast have a lively backline in which TK Moeke was outstanding last week.

In his first game of the season Moeke carried the ball strongly, tackled well and threw out some superb passes.

Halfback Sam Parkes never seems to play a bad game and he will be a key player tomorrow

Wairarapa Bush came to Gisborne two weeks ago and led Poverty bay 22-17 with three minutes remaining, before conceding two late tries to lose 27-22.

Coach Joe Harwood and his side were gutted.

They dominated the first and third quarters to get themselves into a winning position but allowed the Bay back into the match in the second and fourth quarters.

The Coast will need to start the way they finished last week and maintain the momentum for 80 minutes if they are to get that elusive win.

NGATI POROU EAST COAST (1-15): Hakarangi Tichborne, Wyntah Riki, Perrin Manuel, Hone Haerewa, Adaam Ross, Rikki Kernohan, Jack Richardson, Buchanan Maxwell, Sam Parkes, Ngarangi Haerewa, Teina Potae, TK Moeke, Verdon Bartlett, Jayden Milner, Morrison Sikilo. Reserves: Pera Bishop, Tim Barbarich, Scott Lasenby, Tanetoa Parata, Fabyan Kahaki, Benny Haerewa, Mangu Kemp.