“YMP will be tough — they always are — but the boys are ready to have another crack at breaking our duck.”
Farmvets YMP coach Reihana Wyllie has also been hit with injuries, with Tyronne White, who scored two tries in a 36-0 win against Pirates last week, ruled out after he picked up a hamstring strain in training last night.
“We told him to go home and start icing it but I can’t see Chubb (White) playing this week,” Wyllie said.
“Te Peehi Fairlie, who tore ligaments in his knee last week, is out for three weeks, James Ferris (halfback) is still recovering from sore ribs and Jason Kemp (winger) is having trials for the New Zealand Maori under-18 team.
“We’re still able to field a strong backline and I’ve been very impressed with our second-five, Donny Harrison, who joined us from Tawhiti this year. He’s stepping up as a senior player.
“The good news is we have Jeremy Ferris back on the wing and I’m giving a first start to Storm Tomoana at loosehead prop.”
Kevin Hollis Glass Pirates and Aon Waikohu meet at Te Karaka. Both teams are on four points so a win would be rewarded with a top-four spot, behind YMP.
A loss, coupled with Ngatapa beating YMP, would result in either Waikohu or Pirates dropping to the bottom of the table at the end of Round 1.
“We’re preparing for a ding-dong battle,” Pirates coach Steve Smith said.
“Waikohu will be fired up to put on a good show in front of their supporters. They always play with a lot of heart and skill, but they seem to play even better at TK.”
Smith has had to dig deep again, with key players still not available.
“We’ve also lost the services of our young first-five Jayden Matenga, injured, and had to call in one of our club stalwarts, Junior Akurangi, to cover.
“I’ll be relying on Junior to use his experience and guide the young guys around. Having an old head like Junior in the backline will be invaluable as we expect Waikohu to come at us with everything they’ve got.
“I also hope to have Irirangi Maxwell back after his involvement with kapa haka.”
Waikohu coach Tahi Hiroki is slowing building a side capable of challenging Pirates and Ngatapa for a place in the top four.
They were outplayed by OBM for 40 minutes last week and trailed 20-2 at halftime but regrouped and closed the gap to 20-16 within 10 minutes of the second spell, before OBM sealed the win with a try.
The fightback was led by senior forwards Tapu Dixon, Mat Ruru and Geoff Pari, and first-five Ethine Reeves, but Hiroki is quick to point out his “young players” are coming to the party.
“They’re improving with every game as they get used to the physical side and structure of premier teams.”
