Gave it a crack, now he's back

BACK IN RED: Ethine Reeves will start at first five-eighth for Poverty Bay on Saturday in a crunch Heartland Championship clash with North Otago in Gisborne. Picture by Paul Rickard

ETHINE Reeves makes his first Heartland Championship appearance of the season when Poverty Bay host North Otago in a crucial clash at Rugby Park tomorrow (2.30pm kick-off).

Reeves, who has not worn the red jersey since the Bay’s Queen’s Birthday Monday 26-20 win against Ngati Porou East Coast, will run the cutter from first five-eighth

Kahu Tamatea, the first five in all three Heartland games so far, will replace Tamati Samuels at fullback.

“Tamati Samuels has a crook shoulder, so moving Kahu to fullback allows us to bring in Ethine and gives us experience in a key position (fullback),” said Bay coach Mutu Ngarimu.

Reeves, 22, capped an outstanding 2014 season with selection for the Heartland Championship 15 before moving to Palmerston North in what turned out to be an unsuccessful bid to break into the ITM Cup ranks.

“I gave it a crack but always knew that if it didn’t work out I’d love to come back and play for the Bay,” Reeves said. “They gave me the opportunity to play rep rugby and if it wasn’t for the Bay I would never have made the Heartland Championship 15.”

Ngarimu and assistant Rico Gear have made other changes in the pack and backline for a game the Bay need to win to build momentum for their top-four playoffs bid. Sione Ngatu (loosehead prop) and Ken Houkamau (blindside flanker) will make their first starts of the season.

“They’ve both been impressive off the bench,” said Ngarimu.

Bay of Plenty-based Jake Paringatai, will partner skipper Murray Hewson at lock. Russell Burns (tighthead prop) comes back into the side after missing the past two games. The Bay had missed Burns’ physical approach, said Ngarimu.

In-form winger Carl Riini is switching to centre, with Leigh Bristowe, who has been wearing the No.13 jersey, moving back to his preferred position on the wing.

“Leigh and Afa (Faatau) are both pure finishers but there was no way Carl could be left out the way he’s played this season,” Ngarimu said.

While there is no doubting the attacking quality of the Bay, a huge question mark hangs over their defence. They are averaging over 40 points a game attack-wise but have conceded 112 — 97 of those in their past two games, losses to Thames Valley and Horowhenua Kapiti.

Some of it is to do with technique and a lack of communication. Willingness to put one’s body on the line in one-on-one tackles could also be questioned.

That last aspect will be put to the test on Saturday against a North Otago side who were thumped 40-10 by Wanganui in Oamaru last weekend — a score that could have been much worse as Wanganui failed to convert any of their eight tries.

If the Bay are to get their top-four campaign back on track, they will have to defy history. They have beaten North Otago only once — 18-10 in 2009 in Gisborne — in their past seven meetings. North Otago won 40-8 in 2010, the teams drew 30-all at the Oval in 2011, North Otago pipped the Bay 24-23 in 2012 and walloped them 53-18 in 2013. Last season the “Old Golds” won 43-34 in Oamaru, the Bay squandering a 17-point halftime lead.

Poverty Bay go into tomorrow’s round 4 game level on points (8) with Horowhenua Kapiti and North Otago. A loss would mean an uphill battle to make the Meads Cup top-four playoffs and the prospect of having to rely on other results to help them out.

Only two teams, North Otago (2012) and Mid Canterbury (2011), have made the top four after three losses since the Heartland Championship was formed in 2006.