'Great enthusiasm' for rugby on Cape

HERE WE GO: TVC player-coach and captain Moana Mato has a look before feeding his support players in the 2017 East Coast rugby final against Hikurangi, a game TVC won in extra time. TVC are looking for another big season this year. Picture by Paul Rickard

THE year 2012 was supposed to be the end of the world.

But for Cape Runaway-based TVC, the farthest flung of East Coast rugby’s active clubs, 2012 signalled the dawn of a new era: they made their first appearance in a final and as No.1 qualifier hosted Waiapu that year.

In 2017, TVC emerged victorious from extra time against Hikurangi, and last season they came within striking distance of Uawa’s goal-line on the last play of a 24-23 epic.

Player-coach and captain Moana Mato has led Tihirau Victory Club since 2012. His nine straight years as captain is the longest tenure by a skipper in TVC’s history, comparable to that of past East Coast president John Manuel’s 10 years of service to first the old Rangitukia Rangers, and later Waiapu.

“We trained twice before the lockdown and had a camp with 18 guys over February 29 and 30, including a hike over maunga (Mount) Tihirau,” Mato said.

“It’s at times like the ones we’ve had recently that our community’s strength comes through and now we look forward to expending some energy, playing rugby with and against our Ngati whanau.”

Assistant coaches will be manager Whetu Haerewa, trainer Jackson Reuben and scrum coach-tighthead prop (and Ringatu minister) Rawiri Waititi.

Among TVC’s returning players are utility forward Manaia Nyman, No.8 Hoani Te Moana, and classy backs Verdon Bartlett and Tawhao Stewart.

Fullback Bartlett is a Ngati Porou East Coast representative with 77 caps over 12 seasons.

Nyman, an excellent athlete and competitor with the skills to cover forward spots from lock to No.8, missed 2019 with injury.

Former Bay of Plenty under-19 halfback Keegan Rowley is a new recruit.

Hooker Tuterangi Te Moana played for the BoP u19s in 2015, while Hamiora Ngatoro can cover the positions from rake to openside flanker.

They have great enthusiasm for rugby on the Cape. TVC won both the East Coast women’s seven-a-side and 10-a-side titles last year; and the club intends to field teams in every grade from under-6s to u16s.

Whetu Haerewa, community police officer at Te Kaha and “chief lawn-mower” at Kauaetangohia Marae, is pleased to think that TVC teams will make the most of however many opportunities they have to compete.

“We’re going back to our mantra of enjoying people, our own and visitors, right throughout the season,” he said.

“We want to come together, for young guys who’ve been away at school or working, to come back, do some hunting and fishing, spend quality time with their families, play some rugby.

“You never know when your last game might be.”