Ngati Porou East Coast Rugby chief executive Cushla Tangaere-Manuel paid tribute to the work done by all seven club teams in this year’s competition.
“I’m conscious of the effort all clubs make to get a team on the field,” she said.
“Rugby has a major impact in our communities and I look forward to the vibe it creates throughout our rohe (district) in 2019.”
Last year’s beaten finalists TVC — who claimed their first title in 2017 — are determined to make a statement in Week 1. The team will now be coached by NPEC Meads Cup winner Verdon Bartlett and the man who, with Whetu Haerewa, led the team from Cape Runaway to glory — Moana Mato.
Mato said: “We’ve had good numbers at training in the past couple of weeks and we can’t wait for the season to start. Fitness is a big key and we’ll also be looking at structure: building on the game-plan.”
Morgan Wirepa junior will coach the Te Araroa-based Tokararangi. However, having suffered a severe knee injury in Matakaoa’s Barry Cup challenge against Waikohu late last season, the former NPEC forward’s own playing days are over. His crew, though, have talent to burn in the form of Pamona Samupo, Hone Haerewa, Chris Bristowe and Frank Henderson.
Player-coaches are certainly doing it tough up the Coast at the moment. Thankfully, legends of NPEC rugby are on hand to take up the slack.
Hicks Bay’s Warren Henderson suffered a broken leg against TVC in the pre-season but wise head Tyrone Delamere and strongman Aaron King will now coach Hicks Bay. Frank Taiapa will run the forwards; Shaun Murtagh, the backs.
The side’s long-serving manager and former president of the East Coast union, Graeme Summersby, said: “We’re going to play simple rugby and do the basics well, maintain discipline, minimise penalties.”
The approach outlined by Summersby is sensible and could constitute winning rugby tomorrow.
Poor weather is a great equaliser and helps teams establish strong patterns of play, while exposing those forwards whose handling skills and ball security lack at kick-off, restarts, rucks and mauls.
Tokomaru Bay United have new coaches in Daryl Goldsmith and Kuru Gray — Gray having previously coached Christchurch University — and the community is abuzz with enthusiasm for rugby.
Last season’s player-coach, Mike Tiopira, set to play his 17th straight season, reports that the team has regularly had 25 to 30 players at training.
“Adam Williams has brought to the club a lot of boys involved in the forestry and we’re all enjoying having more structure — everybody’s got ideas and chipping in.”
Hikurangi coach Doone Harrison and his iconic club — now in their 100th year — promise to be tough opposition.
Harrison said: “I want the boys to enjoy their first hit-out. We’ve done a lot of work on our skill level, so hopefully that comes through.”
In her second season as coach of Ruatoria City, Lisa Muller has been busy assembling her line-up in the build-up to this club rugby season.
“CJ Fox-Campbell is out injured, Jack Richardson has transferred to Uawa and Corey Walker has transferred to Hikurangi,” Muller said.
“Tim Barbarich is our captain this season, Pera Bishop is vice-captain. We’ve got other good players, such as Quentin Takarangi and Nathaniel Fox there as well, so we’re excited. We’re ready!”
Referee Peter Matahiki will control Tokomaru Bay United’s home game with Hicks Bay at Hatea-a-rangi, Harawira Matahiki has Tihirau Victory Club versus Tokararangi at Whangaparaoa and Stephen Soutar is in charge of that meatiest of local derbys: Hikurangi versus Ruatoria City at Whakarua Park.
