Five newbies in Poverty Bay wider squad ahead of NPEC derby match

Ngatapa's Ricardo Patricio.

The Poverty Bay wider squad to prepare for the Queen's Birthday Weekend derby match against Ngati Porou East Coast features five new faces.

YMP forward Stuart Leach has been named in the 32-man squad alongside backs Moses Christie (Waikohu), Braedyn Grant (OBM), Ricardo Patricio (Ngatapa) and Solomoni Rasari (Pirates).

“We've gone for a fairly experienced squad for this initial selection of 2022, with a sprinkling of youth,” Civil Project Solutions Poverty Bay Heartland head coach Miah Nikora said.

“We're fortunate to have a lot of guys back from the 2021 Heartland squad, which should give us good continuity heading into this fixture, and we're happy with the leaders we have in the forwards.

“Dan Law, Adrian Wyrill, Shayde Skudder, Rikki Terekia and Tamanui Hill are well-respected and will give the pack good direction.

“We have guys who have good skillsets across the backline, with the size to adapt from an expansive game to a direct game, or vice-versa, and we have experience at halfback in Mario Counsell and Ra Broughton and first five in Kelvin Smith.”

Three players — Ethine Reeves (YMP), Mitchell Purvis (YMP) and lock Adriaan Brits (Wairoa Athletic) are unavailable for the game which kicks off at 2.30pm at Whakarua Park in Ruatoria on Saturday, June 4.

The Coast hosted the traditional QBW clash last year and won 28-23 to claim the PJ Sayers Cup for the first time in five years.

Nikora will not name a captain or vice-captain until the week prior to the official celebration of Her Majesty's 96th birthday.