Horse back on rep track at age of 47

File picture of Horace Lewis in action against Poverty Bay in 2009, by Paul Rickard

FORTY-SEVEN-YEAR-OLD Horace Lewis has answered an SOS call from Ngati Porou East Coast co-coach Troy Para and will take part in a “trial” game against Thames Valley at Ruatoria on Saturday.

“We’re a bit thin in the propping area and Horse (Lewis) has agreed to come into the squad,” said Para.

“We’re not expecting him to play 80 minutes but anyone who watched the club final (between Hikurangi and Uawa) saw what he could do with ball in hand.

“Although he’s played lock for Hiku, we haven’t seen too many props in the club comp make the type of runs he did.

“He’s played enough rugby to adjust to the front row. He’s kept himself fit. It’s up to Horace to see how far he wants to take it.”

Lewis has played 94 games for the Coast, including a stint as player-coach, but has not donned the jersey since 2009.

The Coast have pre-Heartland Championship games against Thames Valley in Ruatoria this weekend and Eastern Bay of Plenty in Tolaga Bay the following weekend.

Apart from Lewis, Para and co-coach Wayne Ensor, have retained 19 of the 22-man squad who beat Poverty Bay 26-8 at Whakarua Park on Queen’s Birthday Weekend.

It was the Coast’s first win against the Bay in 10 years and has set the scene for a classic Heartland Championship season-opening clash between the sides in Gisborne on August 27.

Uawa halfback Sam Parkes, who had a stormer in the Queen’s Birthday match, will captain the Sky Blues this season while his brother Ben (flanker) has also been named in the squad.

Two other brothers, Kris and Kareti Palmer, will also wear the Coast jersey together.