Hammers back for revenge as Taonga goes on the line

Ngati Porou East Coast’s Kris Palmer, pictured playing against Poverty Bay last year, will notch his 50th game for the Kaupoi tomorrow. They face Mid Canterbury who they beat in the 2022 Lochore Cup final. The Bill Osborne Taonga, held by the Coast, will also be up for grabs. Picture by Paul Rickard

A clash between titans draws big crowds.

And as with the Rumble in the Jungle, the Thriller in Manila or Hogan v Andre, the Kaupoi v the Hammers has must-see status.

A replay of last year’s Lochore Cup final between Enterprise Cars Ngāti Porou East Coast and Mid-Canterbury — won by NPEC 25-20 at Whakarua Park in Ruatōria — will double as the hosts’ first defence of the Bill Osborne Taonga this season.

The Hosea Gear and now Kahu Tamatea-coached Coast completed their 2022 Heartland Championship campaign with a three-tries-to-two display of nerve and discipline to rank alongside the National Provincial Championship triumphs of 1999 and 2000, and the Meads Cup victory of 2012.

Captain and halfback Sam Parkes is back in the representative saddle for the Kaupoi (Cowboys) — he played his club rugby for Kerikeri in Northland this season — and he, hooker Joe Royal and the rest of what is a powerful Coast crew go into Round 2 with a point to prove.

They led Wairarapa Bush 21-14 in Masterton seven days ago only to go down 32-31 in an eight-try doozy.

Royal scored last Saturday, as he had in the 2022 Lochore Cup final, but a man of his quality and inclination would hand that try back in a heartbeat for a win.

Ahead of Game 2 between NPEC and Ashburton’s finest, first-year head coach Tamatea,  who wore the jersey of West Coast, East Coast and Poverty Bay in his playing days,  knows the importance and value of winning at home.

“We need to defend well because they’ve got some strong ball-carriers,” he said. “Our strategy is to play clever and build phases. We must get down into their green zone.”

Game-breaking first-five Terangi Fraser will need to outwit as much as overpower his opposite, Josh Jennings, tomorrow.

Fraser stormed through the Bush to open the Sky Blues’ account last Saturday.

Jennings and second-year Hammers head coach John Sherratt will be well aware of that, and their hosts’ hankering for a seventh win in the fixture.

Sherratt is happy with how his team have prepared for this big game in the wake of their 24-43 loss at home last Saturday to North Otago. He is satisfied with where the green and gold are as a team.

Logan Bonnington, a reserve at lock for the Hammers this time around, will be keen to avenge their five-point loss on his last trip to Ruatōria — his 50th game for Mid-Canterbury.

But equally eager to do well will be Coast left-wing Kris Palmer, of the Hikurangi club, who will play his 50th game in the Sky Blue jersey.

Controlling the game from 2pm tomorrow will be referee Tipene Cottrell (Hawke’s Bay, 31), with Matt Richards and Melvin Ashford of NPEC his assistants.

NGĀTI POROU EAST COAST KAUPOI: Hakarangi Tichborne, Joseph Royal, Jaya More, Richard Green, Nick Crosswell, Mitchell Crosswell, Will Bolingford, Faifili Levave, Sam Parkes (c), Terangi Fraser, Kris Palmer, Tevita Nabura, Apirana Pewhairangi, Pamona Samupo, Renata Roberts-Te Nana. Res: Manahi Brooking, Jayden Leiua-Pukia, Joseph Roberts, Riki Waitoa, Rico Te Kani, Josh Dearden, Tutere Waenga, Verdon Bartlett.

MID CANTERBURY HAMMERS: Brad Tarbotton, Callum Burrell, Adam Williamson (c), Lote Nasiga, Bainikolo Halafihi, Rory Duff, Kaydis Hona, Michael Hennings, Liam McCormack, Josh Jennings, Raitube Vasurakuta, Tom Reekie, Isireli Maiswini, Hugh Griffiths, Sam Pearce. Res: Max Stapleton, Cameron Hayes, Osea Baisagale, Logan Bonnington, Ashton McArthur, Angus McKenzie, Hamish McKenzie, Eli McKibbin/Matt McAtamney.