A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.
They’ve both tasted defeat and tomorrow Ngati Porou East Coast and the Mid-Canterbury Hammers want to replace that with victory in Week 2 of the Mitre 10 Heartland Championship.
It will be a 2.30pm kick-off at Enterprise Cars Whakarua Park in Ruatoria, with a forecast high of 14 degrees and a sou’ westerly breeze in the afternoon. No curtain-raiser has been scheduled and the surface is in great condition.
The Coast will field the same forward pack that they did in the 19-54 loss to Buller at Victoria Square, but Uawa’s Chris Richardson comes in for club teammate Sam Parkes at first-five, Epeli Lotawa (NPEC’s Most Valuable Player in the 19-27 loss to Poverty Bay in Ruatoria at Queen’s Birthday Weekend) replaces fellow loan player Sailosi Vatubua on the left-wing and Verdon Bartlett replaces William Martin on the right-wing.
The performance of try-scoring machine Hakarangi Tichborne (six tries in three games) at loosehead prop, rake Wyntah Riki and scrum-anchor player of origin Perrin Manuel on the tighthead side will once more be crucial for the hosts.
Sky Blue fans may look to No.8 Mitch Crosswell, halfback Hamuera Baker and centre Zac Guildford also. They have the ability to break close games wide open.
Forward cover is provided by Anton King and Hoani Te Moana (in for Sese Tohi and Jack Richardson); Martin having taken Bartlett’s spot on the bench and Ben Haerewa also joining the reserves.
“We’ve reflected on last week — we need to win more ball and retain it, because we’re a good attacking side and we’ve got a couple of things we want to try,” said NPEC’s Wayne Ensor, whose players worked hard on individual skills this week.
The head coach appreciates that even dyed-in-the-wool pundits don’t always know what to expect in Heartland rugby, though traditionally the Hammers are a strong team up-front with good backs who finish well.
Mid-Canterbury have won 15 of 19 games they have played against NPEC since the Hammers’ 43-7 win at Ashburton in 1991. The Coast’s first win, 27-9, came in 2001 while the record at home is won four, lost seven since first hosting the fixture in 2001. In 2011 at home, the Sky Blues beat Mid-Canterbury 15-13 and in the great season of 2012, bested the Hammers 20-13: the only occasion upon which they have tasted victory at the Showgrounds.
Mid-Canterbury began their pre-season campaign with a 29-14 win v Ellesmere on August 3; the next two Saturdays saw them host Canterbury B (14-7 to CB) and travel to Timaru (7-5 to South Canterbury).
“Last weekend, we let the big ’Nua pack run at us in the first half — if we’d had another few minutes, the result might have been different,” said Hammers head coach Dale Palmer of his side’s 10-17 loss at home to Horowhenua-Kapiti.
“Our guys are looking forward to being a part of the atmosphere up in Ruatoria but we also have to be smart on defence, because the Coast are big strong lads and they’ll have a go.”
Mid-Canterbury’s Angus Lindsay is in at openside flanker for Seta Koroitamana — a member of the Heartland XV to face Manu Samoa at Eden Park tomorrow — while halfback Tyler Blackburn replaces the experienced Will McKenzie. Fullback Matt McAtamney starts for Richard Catherwood and on the reserves bench is Methven powerhouse Manasa Bari, a convert from blindside flank to the right wing.
Controlling his sixth NPEC game on his first trip to Ruatoria will be 37-year-old financial consultant Tim Griffiths (Manawatu) in his 16th Heartland appointment, with East Coast assistant referees Matt Richards (AR1) and Melvyn Ashford (AR2).
NGATI POROU EAST COAST, 1-22: Hakarangi Tichborne, Wyntah Riki, Perrin Manuel (OP), Scott Lasenby, Adaam Ross, Hone Haerewa (c), Trent Proffit, Mitch Crosswell (LP), Hamuera Baker, Chris Richardson, Epeli Lotawa, Tawhao Stewart, Zac Guildford (LP), Verdon Bartlett, Zane King. R: Pera Bishop, Laman Davies, Anton King, Hoani Te Moana, Ben Haerewa, Billy Manuel, William Martin.
Mid-Canterbury: Tom Heywood, Jackson Donlan, Sorby Sorvea (LP), Eric Duff, Matt Bentley, Tom Blyth, Angus Lindsay, Jon Dampney (c), Tyler Blackburn, Corey McKay (LP), Lima Savainea, Nete Caucau, Josh McAtamney, Timoci Nabakeke, Matt McAtamney. R: Jacob Sutton, Adam Williamson, Kody Nordqvist, Sam Madden, Manasa Bari, Cory Sinclair, Inoke Tonga.