Ensor expecting tough game from Waikohu

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

HIGH School Old Boys coach Wayne Ensor is taking nothing for granted as he prepares for tomorrow’s clash with Aon Waikohu at the Oval.

Woodbank HSOB lead the premier rugby competition by 10 points, with five games to play before the semifinals.

But only Waikohu, three points behind fourth-placed YMP, and Ngatapa have beaten HSOB this season.

“Results in the second round have shown how tight the race for the top-four places is going to be,” Ensor said.

“It’s our home game and we’ll be looking to take it to them.”

Ensor will not have first five-eighths Hayden Stuart and Scott Leighton.

Stuart was injured in last week’s 40-36 win against OBM, while Leighton is unavailable.

Despite their absence, Ensor can field a strong backline with Andrew Knight, Corey Reihana, Evan Bryant, James Warren, Sione Tamale, Manase Tupe and Zane Boyle.

Up front, Ensor will use the experienced Kolo Fonohema as hooker, with Russell Burns out injured,

Aon Waikohu coach Tahi Hiroki said he expected HSOB to be after payback for their loss at Te Karaka.

“It’s a big game for us,” Hiroki said.

“We’re just outside the top four.”

Hiroki said that apart from centre Frankie Ngatoro, who started last week’s game against Pirates when Waikohu came from 22-8 down at halftime to win 44-28, the team would be the same.

“Frankie’s not available this week but Larry Fleming, who missed last week, is back,” Hiroki said.

Tulsa Kaui, who made a huge impact off the bench, will again come off the bench.

“Tulsa’s such an explosive player when he comes on, he’s great value for us.”

Hooker and skipper Geoff Pari and props Sandy Campbell and Robert Jones were also star performers last week.

¦ Larsawn Ngatapa coach Will Faulks admitted he “had a bit of a messy week in training this week”, as he prepared to play Kevin Hollis Glass Pirates at Rugby Park.

“Quite a few guys were away at the fieldays, and we will have some changes from last week (a 36-8 win against YMP) but I’m really happy with the way the squad have gone about turning our year around,” Faulks said.

“Hopefully we can continue to improve for the remainder of the season.”

Maka Lauti and Alex Chrisp are both out with injuries but the big news for Ngatapa fans is the return to the starting line-up of Sione Ngatu and a Poverty Bay teammate, midfielder Anthony Karauria.

Ngatu made his first appearance, off the bench, last week and the Bay’s most capped player could not be making his comeback at a better time. After losing their first five games, Ngatapa are chasing their sixth straight win.

Victory tomorrow could result in Ngatapa moving into second spot.

“We’re just focusing on each game as it comes,” Faulks said.

“We expect a tough game tomorrow. We’ve talked about areas of our game that need to improve from last week.

“The good thing is there is pressure on the guys within the team to perform as we have a decent squad around us and pressure on the points table.

“We need to keep winning and the points table will look after itself.”

At Rugby Park last week, Pirates coach Steve Smith watched his team go to a 22-8 halftime lead against Waikohu before losing 44-28.

“For us it’s all about getting players on the paddock,” Smith said.

“We’ve had injuries, but we’ve also had players unable to play due to work and other commitments.”