Gear sticking to his guns

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

The Kaupoi got a lot right last Saturday.

And to that end, Ngati Porou East Coast rugby head coach Hosea Gear has named the same starting 15 and 23-man squad for tomorrow's away game with the Mid-Canterbury Hammers, as those who lost 32-14 at home to Horowhenua-Kapiti.

Gear's Sky Blues went to the break 14-13 up at Enterprise Cars Whakarua Park, Ruatoria, in the Bunnings Warehouse Heartland Championship opener, and he trusts his Sam Parkes-led crew to continue to build on their good work there, at the Ashburton Showgrounds.

“Our forwards played well and created momentum for us, although we had to choose our options while being under real pressure in the second half,” Gear said.

“Considering we had just the one full team training together, I was pretty happy with what we got out of the game last week. Losing four players — in key positions — to season-ending injuries in the lead-up wasn't ideal. It is what it is.”

The chances that the Coast may this week kick on are good because of the experience and quality within the side. Rake Jorian Tangaere, hero of the Sky Blues' Ranfurly Shield challenge, did the job again in scoring their first try of the competition against the 'Nua.

And while Horowhenua-Kapiti anchor Scott Cameron made NPEC work hard at scrum-time last weekend, Joe Royal, Tangaere and Semisi Akana are quick learners in the front row and they have heavy hitters as back-up in Jody Tuhaka, Hakarangi Tichborne and Perrin Manuel.

Coast lock Boston Hunt dominated the lineout in Game 1 and the back row were superb from 6 to 8. But for handling errors towards the end of the first half, halfback Parkes's side would have been up by at least one try — two at a push.

First-year Hammers head coach John Sherratt has brought 27 years' worth of lessons learned observing, identifying, fine-tuning and guiding players to his latest assignment.

“We've got a great bunch of boys who are keen to learn and get better,” said Sherratt, who coached Honda professionally in Japan in 2009 and 2010.

“Our captain, Adam Williamson (loosehead prop), Logan Bonnington (lock) and Osea Baisagale (reserve tighthead prop) led our new team song for the first time after training last night — and while we're known for having a handy tight five, playing direct, these guys have big bodies, skill and speed. We've got a good balance across the park.”

The Hammers have an international flavour in six-test second-five Quinn Ngawati, of Canada, their overseas player currently hailing from Rugby New York.

While they lost their first game 34-29 to Buller at Westport, they are not to be underestimated. They lost both of the two pre-season games they played. Ellesmere beat them 27-23 at Prebbleton and Canterbury B beat them 53-7 at Hinds, but they don't fear being tested.

Mid-Canterbury won the last clash with NPEC 22-15 at Ruatoria on August 31, 2019, with the Sky Blues last beating the Hammers 20-13 at Ashburton on September 15, 2012.

The referee for tomorrow's game is Daniel Moore (Canterbury), 33, of Sharp Glass in Christchurch. He made both his Farah Palmer Cup and Heartland Championship debuts in 2019. His assistant referees tomorrow will be Glenn Peddie and Kaalifa Faalogo.

• The curtain-raiser is Mid-Canterbury Development v North Otago at 12.30pm.