Coast rugby ready to rumble

Great take . . . . The supporter’s arms say it all as Ruatoria City captain Jack Richardson rises high to take lineout ball in a preseason match against Tokorarangi during the inaugural Morgan Waitoa Memorial Day Tournament last weekend. The quest for championship honours on the East Coast begins in earnest tomorrow.Picture supplied

The buzz that surrounded Whakarua Park at Ruatōria last weekend is once more in the air.

Tokararangi pipped Tihirau Victory Club 7-5 on fulltime in a thrilling men’s final at the inaugural Morgan Waitoa Memorial Day Tournament on Saturday,

Waima ran out 17-0 over Waiapu in the women’s showpiece.

Tomorrow sees the quest for the iconic Rangiora Keelan Memorial Shield as H Blackbee Contractors Ngati Porou East Coast men’s club championship begins, as does the Hamoterangi Cup Enterprise Cars women’s competition.

Hicks Bay has withdrawn from the women’s comp, so defending champions Hikurangi Mountain Maidens and Waiapu have a bye.

Three games will be held at Hatea-a-Rangi Domain in Tokomaru Bay.

The club season will open at 11am with the Waima women up against TVC’s Mana Wahine.

At 1pm, the Waima men will face 2022 champions TVC .

At 3pm, Tokomaru Bay United meet an Uawa side skippered by a true titan in Adaam Ross.

At Whakarua Park, the Ruatōria City women, coached by Paul Kahaki, are at home to Tokararangi under Black Ferns hooker Te Kura Ngata-Aerengamate, at 11.30am.

At 2pm the City men, with Tanetoa Parata at the helm, will go at it with Te Araroa-based Tokararangi.

Tokararangi’s two player-coaches, Israel Brown and Rapata Haerewa, are clever. Brown is savvy, tough and equally adept in either the forwards or the backs.

Haerewa, who began his club career with TVC, went to Tokararangi, then back to TVC, was the man who made TVC’s 27-year dream of winning the Rangiora Keelan Memorial Shield a reality when he kicked a penalty goal in the 100th minute of the 2017 grand final against Hikurangi for a 24-21 triumph.

At 2pm, current men’s champions Hicks Bay — who beat TVC for their first title after 109 years — are at home to Hikurangi Te Maunga at Kawakawa Mai Tawhiti, Wharekahika.

Hikurangi are a club whose future is in excellent hands, with Ngāti Porou East Coast Kaupoi No.888 Pakanui Webb coaching the men and Kaupoi No.805 Doone Harrison in charge of the women.

Hicks Bay have a new men’s head coach in Aaron King’s former assistant Warren Henderson. Henderson and solid characters such as Frank Taiapa, Shaun Murtagh and Manahi Brooking all know that an uncompromising tight five and tireless forward effort are must-haves.

Rain is expected, with a high temperature of 18 degrees and gusting sou’westerlies.

These factors could add to the high drama that is Coast rugby in trying conditions. The natural inclination to run can be tempered if the need arises.

“We’ve worked on our fitness, with good numbers at training in the preseason since February,” said Henderson.

“In terms of the captaincy, that will be shared again — as it was last year — between our experienced players, depending on availability.

“Winning the competition last season was a great thing for the players, coaches, management, and also our sponsors, past players and community.”